Senate has votes to keep ANWR in budget

WASHINGTON, March 15 (UPI) -- Supporters of oil exploration in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge appear to have enough votes to keep it in the FY 2006 Senate budget resolution.

Efforts to strip the provision appeared blocked Tuesday after an attempt by its opponents was short-circuited, CongressDaily AM said.

ANWR opponents, led by Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., stripped the drilling revenue language from the 2005 budget resolution on a 52-48 vote. Since then, three pro-drilling senators have replaced three opponents, meaning that if no other votes change, the measure would pass, 51-49.

Republicans Jim DeMint of South Carolina, Richard Burr of North Carolina and Mel Martinez of Florida replaced Democrats opposed to drilling while the three Democrats who voted for it in 2004, U.S. Sens. Daniel Inouye and Daniel Akaka of Hawaii and Louisiana's Mary Landrieu, have not changed their position.

"We feel confident we've got the votes, but with not a vote to spare," said Senate Energy and Natural Resources spokesman Marnie Funk.

ANWR drilling is expected to produce $2.5 billion in new revenue for the federal government.