Help Senator Stevens Retire : Fax Congress to keep Arctic Refuge drilling out of the budget

Robert F Kennedy Jr’s Natural Resources Defense Council is organizing to
Tell Congress to keep Arctic Refuge drilling out of the budget

http://www.nrdcaction.org/action/in...

Stevens says it may be his last try at ANWR

Washington, D.C. - A Senate vote on drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge next week could have more than just an effect on energy development or conservation efforts. What happens next week may affect the political future of Alaska’s senior senator, Ted Stevens.

He’s been nicknamed “senator for life.” He hasn’t had a serious opponent in years, but it’s possible that Sen. Ted Stevens’ days in the U.S. Senate are numbered by his own choice. Stevens dropped a bit of a political bombshell Friday on the Senate floor while talking about an expected ANWR drilling vote next week.

“This may be my last stand at trying to convince Congress to keep its word. I’m not sure I want to serve any longer in a Senate that cannot, will not, carry out commitments that were made by previous occupants of this body,” he said.

Stevens said he’s been depressed about ANWR since an attempt to get drilling approved was defeated during the last Congress. He’s frustrated with some of his colleagues.

“Some of them have told me they’re with me, and they don’t vote with us,” he said. “Others have done things that I would not do to them. Yes, I’m getting very disturbed with them.”

Stevens said he feels guilty that ANWR still has not been approved because he’s the one who agreed to the 1980 lands bill that leaves ANWR drilling to the discretion of Congress. On the other hand, Stevens said he thinks he has the votes next week to get drilling approved.

A comment Thursday by Sen. Russ Feingold, D-Wisc., a drilling opponent, suggests that Stevens might be right. "It’s going to be a tough battle. It really shouldn’t even be a question, because it’s not the right place to do it, but we think we’ve got a shot at it.”

By this time next week, Stevens’ political and personal mood may be very different. If the ANWR vote is successful from his point of view, he may, as he has in the past, talk about running for another term in office.

A vote on ANWR is expected next week, as the Senate debates a budget bill. Drilling opponents need 51 votes to take ANWR drilling legislation out of the budget. Drilling supporters need just 50 votes to keep it in.

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WASHINGTON — Sen. Ted Stevens said Friday he’s been suffering from "clinical depression" for the past year over his failure to get Congress to open the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil exploration and will consider retirement when his term ends in 2008 if such a measure is stripped from the budget next week.

Stevens, 81, later upgraded his condition and said he is not taking medication for depression or seeing a therapist. He said his personal physician has told him to take more time off from work.

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