Summoning the specter of national security threats, President Bush called on the U.S. Senate yesterday to pass an energy bill that would allow oil drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Earlier this week, Senate Democrats ended committee discussion of an energy bill, calling the subject too divisive to discuss during a national crisis. Republicans said discussions were halted because Democrats knew they would lose a vote on the Arctic Refuge issue. Bush weighed in by saying drilling would reduce U.S. dependence on foreign oil. Enviros, however, point out that oil from the refuge would not be available for at least seven years and that the government’s own estimates show the refuge would yield only a 140-day oil supply. They are getting a boost from faux-President Martin Sheen, who taped an anti-drilling ad that is now playing in movie theaters in Washington, D.C., and in 12 key states.
