Arctic National Wildlife Refuge Vote - Thursday, April 28

04/28/2005

This alert from the NRDC says we have to be careful what we say when we call
about this issue.  They recommend the wording below for Senator Coleman and
our representives:

“Vote against any budget resolution that includes reconciliation
instructions that could lead to Arctic Refuge oil drilling.”

-Heidi Granstrom

Dear NRDC Member,

We have just learned that the House and Senate could vote by Friday on a
final budget resolution that would pave the way for opening the Arctic
National Wildlife Refuge to oil drilling.

Senator Norm Coleman could hold the decisive vote in this long-awaited
showdown. He has voted in the past to protect the Arctic Refuge. But this
week he is under tremendous pressure from the White House and congressional leaders to vote for the final budget resolution.

He needs to hear from pro-Arctic Refuge constituents like you immediately!

Please call Senator Coleman at 202-224-5641. You’ll be forwarded to a staff
member or an answering machine. Leave a message urging your senator to:

“Vote against any budget resolution that includes reconciliation
instructions that could lead to Arctic Refuge oil drilling.”

Then, take one more minute to call the Capitol Hill switchboard at 202-224-
3121, ask for your representative’s office, and leave him or her the same
message.

The wording of your message is important because the budget resolution may
not even mention the words “Arctic Refuge.” It is more likely to
contain “reconciliation instructions” to the House Resources Committee and
the Senate Energy Committee requiring them to find budget savings of $1.4
billion or more. The pro-drilling chairmen of these committees would then be
free to say they will generate new revenue by allowing drilling in the
Arctic Refuge.

Remember: if your senators and representative vote for a budget resolution
with these reconciliation instructions, they are voting to drill the Arctic
Refuge!

Your phone call will have the biggest impact. But if you are unable to call,
then please send electronic messages to your senators and representative by
going to

http://www.nrdcactionfund.org/redfordarctic/action.asp?step=2&item=52387
right now.

Please stand up for America’s Arctic Refuge in its hour of greatest need!

Sincerely,
John H. Adams
NRDC Action Fund