Senate Blocks Military Bill Over Arctic Drilling

By CARL HULSE Published: December 21, 2005

WASHINGTON, Dec. 21 - The Earlier today, with Vice Democrat who is the Senate Senate voted today to block a President Dick Cheney breaking minority leader. Pentagon spending bill that a 50-50 tie, the Senate approved would open the Arctic National a $40 billion budget-cutting Republicans said the budget bill Wildlife Refuge to oil drilling, measure that Republicans hailed would save $39.7 billion over preventing Congressional as evidence of their five years. As the oil debate Republicans and President Bush determination to control federal began, Senator Robert Byrd, from achieving their long- spending. Democrat of West Virginia and sought goal of allowing a fierce defender of Senate exploration in the Alaskan "Victory No. 1," Senator Bill rules, urged his colleagues to wilderness. Frist, the majority leader, block the military spending bill, declared after the budget even though he is a longtime In the second major legislative measure was passed. friend of Senator Ted Stevens, showdown of the day, drilling Republican of Alaska and the supporters fell four votes short But Democrats won a champion of the oil drilling of the 60 needed to cut off procedural victory on the plan. debate on the $453.3 billion budget bill that forced it backed spending bill as the Senate to the House of Representatives, "I love this man from Alaska, I voted 56-to-44 to end a delaying final approval and do," he said after clutching a filibuster. Forty-one Democrats depriving House and Senate bound book of Senate rules. and one independent were Republicans of a clear-cut win. "But I love the Senate better." joined by two Republicans in The House has left the capital opposing the drilling plan. for the holidays and it is unclear Today's votes are part of a when lawmakers could take up flurry of activity in the last few Democrats argued that Senate the minor changes. days before the Senate leaves Republicans, at the behest of for the holidays. Several Senator Ted Stevens, the Alaska The decisive vote by Mr. senators have said that the votes Republican who has long Cheney, who cut short an on several major issues, like championed the oil drilling, overseas trip to be on hand, was Arctic oil drilling and the were twisting the rules of the needed because five Republican spending cuts, would determine Senate by adding the drilling senators joined all 44 whether the Congressional initiative to a military bill. Democrats and an independent session ends on a triumphal Senate leaders immediately in opposing the budget plan, note for Republicans, or began exploring ways to save which Democrats argued cut too whether Democrats will the underlying Pentagon deeply into social programs. celebrate blocking their efforts. spending bill before Congress comes to a close in the next few "This bill targets Americans "It is make it or break it," days. As it stands now, with the greatest needs and the Senator Mel Martinez of Florida temporary authorization for fewest resources," said Senator said Tuesday as he left a closed Pentagon spending expires on Harry Reid, the Nevada lunch where Republicans, led Dec. 31. by the majority leader, Senator Bill Frist of Tennessee, had laid actually observed fisticuffs the measure, say it is the out strategy for the next 24 between two of the most majority that is at fault, for hours. respected Republican senators refusing to agree to a temporary ever to serve in this body on extension while disputes over The last few days at the Capitol Christmas Eve." civil liberties safeguards are have been chaotic, with an worked out. exhausting all-night session in As for Mr. Frist, he said he had the House that ended just before no problem with working this Republican leaders also say sunrise Monday and then, after close to the holiday. they might have been able to adjournment there, two days of finish earlier had they not lost bitterness in the Senate over "I used to be a surgeon," he considerable time in September process as well as policy. said. "People got sick all the dealing with Hurricane Katrina time on the 20th, the 21st." and its aftermath. But the The two parties have done approach of a holiday break is battle over the fate of the USA One piece of legislation for often an occasion for legislative Patriot Act, the broad which no votes are yet action, as the time pressure antiterrorism law. Charges and scheduled is the USA Patriot builds and lawmakers relent on countercharges are flying over Act. Sixteen provisions of the some fights. the Bush administration's secret law are set to expire at the end domestic surveillance program. of the year, and an effort to Richard A. Baker, the Senate Democrats continue attacking extend them was blocked by a historian, recalled that in 1982, the Republicans for making filibuster last week. Senate exasperated senators of both what the minority deems leaders traded accusations parties joined just two days draconian cuts in social Tuesday over who would be before Christmas to shut off a programs. held responsible if the filibuster by a handful of provisions lapsed. conservatives against an Veteran legislators say that increase in the federal gasoline preholiday theater is not "The Patriot Act expires on tax. unusual and that Congressional Dec. 31, but the terrorist threat leaders often use the calendar to does not," Mr. Frist told After the lopsided vote, Senator try to enact measures that would reporters, echoing President George J. Mitchell, Democrat of never pass otherwise. Bush. "Those on the Senate Maine, recalled for his floor who are filibustering the colleagues Cromwell's "I have been here 27 years, Patriot Act are killing the exhortation to Parliament in including, I think, two of those Patriot Act." 1653: "You have sat too long years on Christmas Eve," said here for any good you have Senator John W. Warner, Democrats, who were joined by been doing; in the name of God, Republican of Virginia. "I four Republicans in blocking go."