The Senate is set to vote today on a budget measure that allows drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska.

Republicans added drilling the budget in order to prevent a Democratic filibuster. The budget reconciliation only requires a majority vote to pass whereas a filibuster requires 60 votes to break.

Alaska Natives are divided on the issue. Inupiat Eskimos, who own surface and mineral rights in AWWR, support drilling. The Gwic'hin Nation opposes development out of fear it will harm the Porcupine caribou herd that migrates through ANWR.

Get the Story:
Oil drilling vote puts Coleman in a pinch (The Minneapolis Star Tribune 11/3)
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Arctic Drilling Push Is Seen as Threat to Budget Bill (The New York Times 11/3)
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ANWR vote in Senate set for Thursday (The Anchorage Daily News 11/2)
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Relevant Links:
Arctic Slope Regional Corp - http://www.asrc.com
Gwic'hin Steering Committee - http://www.alaska.net/~gwichin
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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