Newly sworn-in Alaska Sen. Mark Begich (D) on Friday kicked off the 111th Congress by attacking Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.) for reintroducing a bill to protect the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.
Begich has been bullish on opening the reserve for drilling. In a press release he accused Lieberman of “knee-jerk reaction” to please greens:
“Sen. Lieberman’s ANWR legislation is another misguided attempt at locking up ANWR to appease environmentalists across the country,” he said. “What this country needs is a comprehensive energy plan dealing with oil and gas development, as well as renewable energy resources, to ease our dependence on foreign oil. Domestic production including the enormous oil and gas reserves believed to lie beneath the Arctic Refuge must be a part of that policy.”
Hmmm, sound like anyone else we know from Alaska?
Most importantly, this is further proof that an increased Democratic majority in the Senate doesn’t mean it will be all rainbows and sunshine when it comes to environmental policy. Major differences exist within the caucus and are already flaring up.
(Via Politico.)
