The Republican draft energy bill was close to emerging from three House committees Wednesday with provisions affecting natural gas virtually unscathed by a host of defeated amendments offered by Democrats.
The debate over drilling in Section 1002 of ANWR is not aboutdestroying one of America's national treasures. At issue is whether to use merely 2,000 acres out of a total of 19 million acres inANWR to ensure the nation's energy security.
A plan announced two years ago to haul large quantities of mine ore nearly 250 miles to the Fort Knox gold mine via a near-continuous procession of trucks has gained organized opposition in recent months and state officials are promising a closer look.
Alaska officials are moving to hold a special election to fill the seat of the late Rep. Don Young (R) by August, the first in state history to be conducted almost entirely by mail.