Frist Should Cancel Senators’ Christmas Vacations

Contact: Richard Morrison, 202.331.2273

Washington, D.C., December 20, 2005— Statement of Myron Ebell, Director of Global Warming & International Environmental Policy at the Competitive Enterprise Institute:

Forty-three Senators who voted today on behalf of special interests and against American consumers should be ashamed of themselves.  Approving oil and gas exploration in a small part of Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge is critical to addressing America's long term energy needs.

Despite the obvious need to increase domestic energy supplies and despite the support of three quarters of Alaskans, forty-three Senators have voted against cloture on the defense appropriations bill in order to benefit environmental pressure groups that have used ANWR as a direct mail fundraising gravy train for decades.

The task now before Senate Majority Frist is as difficult as it is imperative: cancel Senators' Christmas vacations and keep the chamber in session until at least three Senators among the minority can be convinced to drop their obstructionist tactics and vote in favor of the broader interests of the American people.