Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott (R-MS) and Sen. Murkowski (R-AK) attached the Bush/House Energy Bill to a Railroad Bill today, in another attempt to back-door the country into an unsustainable and destructive energy policy designed to line the pockets of their energy industry buddies. The vote on this amendment will take place Monday, December 3rd, at 5pm Eastern. Some groups will be holding press events at BP offices throughout the country including LA, Sacramento, DC, NYC, and Denver to speak out against the bill and in favor of protecting the Arctic Refuge and more renewable energy.
CALL TO ACTION!!
MONDAY DECEMBER 3rd 11AM
WE WILL BE CALLING FOR BP CANCEL PLANS TO DRILL IN THE ARCTIC NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE!!
BP-Amoco-Arco.
ARCO Products
333 South Hope Street
Los Angeles, CA 90071
The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge is one of America's last unspoiled places. Untouched by roads or development, the refuge's coastal plain supports large populations of caribou, musk ox, bears and migratory birds.
Unfortunately, multinational oil companies led by BP/Amoco and ExxonMobil want to open the refuge's coastal plain for oil and gas drilling. The refuge is the only area in America's arctic not open for oil and gas exploration.
Speakers will include members from ecopledge.com, CALPIRG, Sierra Club, and more.
Some props will include a giant resume that students have signed, polar bear costumes, and much more. Please bring your own!!
Outcome of Monday's Energy Vote Unclear
By Campion Walsh
WASHINGTON, Nov 30 (Dow Jones) - Senate Minority Leader Trent Lott, R-Miss., said Friday it's unclear if he'll have the 60-vote majority Monday to overcome a procedural hurdle to Republican energy legislation.
Late Thursday Lott proposed amending a Democratic bill on railroad pensions with most of the House-passed energy bill as well as a Republican measure to ban human cloning for six months. A key procedural vote on the proposed amendment is expected Monday evening.
"I don't know what the numbers will be (in favor of the proposed amendment), but I'm assuming it's going to be over 50," Lott said at a press briefing. "I think we'll be able to show that, you know, there is a majority of the Senate that wants an energy bill, but, under Senate rules, you know, you got to get 60," he said. With 60 votes, the proposed amendment can be included in the other legislation without further debate.
There are 49 Republicans in the Senate, and Senators Mary Landrieu, D-La., and John Breaux, D-La., have indicated support for legislation similar to the House-passed energy bill.
But Majority Leader Tom Daschle, D-S.D., and other Democrats oppose the bill partly because it would allow oil and gas drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, known as ANWR. Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., has said he would filibuster a bill that allows ANWR drilling.
At his press conference Friday, Daschle said he doesn't think the Republicans have the support to win Monday's procedural vote. The majority leader has scheduled a floor vote on alternative Democratic energy legislation for early next year.
Lott indicated Friday that if his amendment receives a simple majority, the ANWR drilling proposal shouldn't be further delayed through filibuster. "But I'm also willing to do the other side," he said. "If there's a vote and it loses, it's over. Move on."
Lott said Republican reservations about the railroad pensions bill could be worked out by the middle of next week, and the Senate could pass a combined bill on railroad retirement, energy and a temporary human cloning ban.
While Lott's amendment includes most of the House-passed energy bill, it doesn't include billion in energy-sector tax incentives over ten years as proposed in the House bill.
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Original: Bush Energy Bill Up for Vote on Monday - BP, Exxon, Phillips Licking Their Lips