The Senate has delayed action on a budget resolution that could open the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to development but supporters say they expect it to win approval.

The resolution was supposed to be finished this week but Hurricane Katrina delayed consideration. The schedule now calls for the resolution to be finished by October 26.

The resolution only needs 51 votes to pass, so it cannot be filibustered. Sen. Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) believes high gas prices in the wake of Katrina will force opponents of drilling to vote for it.

Get the Story:
Senate delays ANWR action (The Anchorage Daily News 9/14)
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ANWR-opening legislation on back burner (The Fairbanks Daily News-Miner 9/14)

Relevant Links:
Arctic Slope Regional Corp - http://www.asrc.com
Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, U.S. Fish and Willdife Service - http://arctic.fws.gov
The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, Pro-Development site - http://www.anwr.org

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