Alaskan oil drilling gets initial OK

WASHINGTON, Oct. 20 (UPI) -- A Senate committee has given the go-ahead to opening up the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil drilling, attaching the measure to a budget-cutting bill.

The Los Angeles Times reports the Energy and Natural Resources Committee added drilling in ANWR as a way to recoup some money during deficit-soaring budget times.

It has also been a big priority for President Bush, many other Republicans and the oil industry in a time when oil prices have reached record levels.

Red Cavaney, president of the American Petroleum Institute, said opening up ANWR to drilling would send the right message to oil markets about future oil supplies.

The United States consumes 20 million barrels of oil a day; by some estimates, ANWR contains 10 billion barrels in all.

The budget-cutting bill the ANWR resolution is attached to isn't a done deal though. The House still has to vote on it and there are differences between budget specifics that may stall it.

Environmentalists are also targeting the bill. They have long defended their position that the Alaskan wildlife should be off limits but have a new tactic with this measure.

The bill threatens cuts in numerous social spending programs, and environmentalists are playing that up in their lobbying on the issue.