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Senate Derails Move For Drilling In Arctic Refuge
. . . Reaction Of Senator Patrick Leahy
[(Thurs., April 18) – In back-to-back votes today, Senator Patrick
Leahy joined other senators in twice defeating attempts to open up the
Arctic National Wildlife Refuge coastal plain for oil and gas
drilling. The amendments to the energy bill -- offered by Alaska’s
U.S. senators, Sen. Ted Stevens (R) and Sen. Frank Murkowski (R) --
were defeated when they could not muster enough votes to end a
potential filibuster by opponents of their amendments. Following is
the comment of Senator Leahy after the two votes.]
"This is one of the last great and unspoiled places in our nation,"
said Leahy. "I have long supported the strongest protections for the
arctic refuge, and we should not sacrifice the refuge or its wildlife
for short-term oil industry profits, especially for an amount of oil
we could easily save through efficiency and conservation."
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