Senate Republicans table ANWR drilling

Senate Republicans are dropping the oil drilling issue in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge this year.

A spokesman says Democratic opposition is too strong, and the caucus would rather focus on offshore drilling.

Alaska Senator Ted Stevens says he doesn’t agree with the party leaders, saying any energy plan without ANWR is a “non-solution.”

Republican leaders on the house side still favor ANWR as part of an energy strategy. A spokesman for House Minority Leader John Boehner says the goal is to at least have a vote on the record.

—The Associated Press