House cuts funding request for Arctic Power’s ANWR lobbying

Petroleum News Alaska Staff

The state House passed HB 101 on Feb. 26, reducing by one-third the amount of a grant requested by Arctic Power for lobbying Congress to open the coastal plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.

The non-profit group had asked the state Legislature for $3 million, an amount it says is significantly less than anti-ANWR drilling groups are currently spending to defeat a vote on ANWR that is expected sometime in the next six weeks.

The House also agreed to give $100,000 each to the Native village of Kaktovik, located in the coastal plain, and to Gov. Frank Murkowski's office for their efforts to support Arctic Power.

The vote to lower the grant to Arctic Power followed two closed meetings of the House Republican caucus and a closed meeting of several House and Senate leaders.

House Finance Committee Chairman John Harris, R-Valdez said he agreed to the reduced amount to assure the bill's quick passage and keep harmony between the House and Senate and between Democrats and Republicans.

Senate President Gene Therriault, R-North Pole, said Senate Republicans prefer not to provide the entire $3 million this fiscal year, which ends June 30. More funding, he said, could come later.

Additional funds might be too late for ANWR vote in Congress

But the additional funds could come too late to take advantage of what the governor and Roger Herrera, Arctic Power’s Washington, D.C. coordinator, call the last chance to make a credible push for drilling in ANWR.

With a Republican president and a Republican majority in the U.S. Senate there is what Herrera calls an unprecedented political advantage to pass legislation that would open the coastal plain to drilling.

Supporters in Congress are expected to insert an ANWR drilling provision in a budget reconciliation bill that will come up for a vote sometime in early April. A budget reconciliation bill cannot be filibustered, so a majority vote prevails. Only 50 votes are needed under this scenario to approve drilling, because the vice president, a supporter of ANWR development, would cast the tie-breaking vote.

HB 101 passed 36-2, with Anchorage Reps. Gara and Sharon Cissna voting against it. The bill requires Arctic Power to coordinate its efforts with the congressional delegation and the governor.