GOP still determined to get in ANWR's pants.

The public doesn't support it. The GOP has twice failed to pass it. In a representative form of government, you'd think that the Republicans would ditch the policy. After all, it wouldn't do a thing to help our economy or to reduce the record-high costs of gasoline.

But these days, the GOP is all about being a don't-take-no-shit kinda party. So they're going to take another stab at turning the wildlife refuge to the oil companies. Who're really on a roll now that they're clocking record profits. Wouldn't want to stop their momentum...

Conspicuous by its absence in the sweeping energy bill that President Bush has championed and will sign Monday is his top energy priority: opening an Alaska wildlife refuge to oil drilling.

But the fight over the future of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge will flare anew in Congress next month with drilling advocates saying they have their best chance in more than two decades of making it happen.
. . . drilling advocates have a backup plan that is expected to unfold in mid-September.

Domenici said he will include a provision authorizing ANWR drilling as part of a budget procedure that is immune to filibuster. A similar maneuver is being planned in the House, although the final strategy is still being worked out.

Unlike normal legislation, the budget process is not subject to filibuster, so only 51 votes will be needed in the Senate for it to clear Congress and be signed into law by the president. Just such a tactic was used a decade ago when Congress approved ANWR drilling as part of the budget process, only to see the measure vetoed by then-President Clinton, a drilling opponent.

I suppose this is another example of W-style leadership-- right or wrong, they're at least consistent in defying the will of the people.