Use my office, Murkowski tells Knowles

Steve Sutherlin

Petroleum News associate editor

U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, extended an invitation Aug. 6 to former Alaska Gov. Tony Knowles to use the resources of her office to assist the fight to open the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil and gas development. Knowles, who just finished two terms as governor, is a Democratic candidate for the Senate seat Murkowski holds.

“Alaska needs to have ANWR open this year. We are getting ready to begin work on conference negotiations on the energy bill and there is a strong possibility that action could be completed on that bill by the end of the year,” Murkowski said. “Alaska cannot afford to wait any longer and I am hopeful that the former governor will take the time to lobby hard for opening ANWR now.”

Murkowski said time is of the essence, because Congress will return to session in September and will begin to conference the energy bill. Murkowski extended all of the resources of her office to Knowles in a letter, and at a press conference in Anchorage.

“We need at least 12 Democratic votes to break their anti-Alaska filibuster on ANWR,” she said. “If the former governor believes he can help get those 12 votes then now is the time to start, not at some far off point down the road.”