Washington, D.C. – In a last minute effort to attempt to save the Budget Reconciliation bill from failing, House Republicans conceded to temporarily remove the provision which permits drilling in the Arctic.  Representative Edward J. Markey, a senior member of the House Resources Committee, and author of an amendment to strip the drilling language from the budget bill made the following statement:

“Today, the Republican leadership is desperately seeking to keep the Budget Reconciliation bill from sinking by throwing overboard the terrible idea of drilling for oil and gas in a national wildlife refuge.  But President Bush and the Republican leadership clearly wish to drag this dead weight back into the boat when the House and Senate meet in conference.  And with Democratic victories in New Jersey and Virginia and a Budget bill still groaning with cuts to Medicaid, food stamps, Even start and student loans, Republican moderates are still being asked to walk the plank for a party that has alienated the American public by demanding tax cuts for those who don’t need help by cutting education and health programs for those who do.”

For more information on how Representative Markey’s work to protect the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge check out: http://www.house.gov/markey/.