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Wednesday, December 21, 2005
Including ANWR on Def. Approps. Is Bad Process
We haven't directly mentioned this yet here, but the inclusion of language opening up the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge on the defense appropriations bill is an awful decision. Not only is the provision not related to the defense appropriations bill (and therefore should be struck through a procedural challege), but it is also a crude, callous, and reprehensible attempt by Sen. Ted Stevens (R-AK) and other Republicans in the Senate who favor drilling in ANWR to coerce those opposed to the provision to support it because of fear as being castigated as "unpatriotic" for voting against the defense bill.
This is the ultimate stacking of the deck; it is no longer about policy and debate, but rather which side can best manipulate the rules to their advantage. Those who have conspired to hold the Defense appropriations bill hostage until the bitter end of the session to force members of Congress into a corner should be ashamed of themselves - and not because opening ANWR is bad policy. They should be ashamed simply because they are manipulating the system in a perverse Machiavellian game where the ends justifies the means, but neither are in the best interest of the country.
Posted by Adam Hughes
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