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11/11/2005:

"U.S. House Leaders Strip Alaska Oil Drilling From Budget Plan"

Nov. 10 (Bloomberg) -- U.S. House Republican leaders removed from a $50.5 billion budget-cutting plan a provision that would have opened an Alaska wildlife refuge to oil drilling in an effort to win support from dissenting members in their party.

The House Rules Committee approved the change last night. The drilling proposal, which the Senate approved last week, would allow oil companies such as Irving, Texas-based Exxon Mobil Corp. and London-based BP Plc to drill on 1.5 million acres in the 19 million-acre Alaska Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. House leaders also removed a provision to allow more offshore drilling in the Gulf of Mexico.

A group of 26 Republicans objected to inclusion of the drilling provisions in legislation, which is designed to reduce the federal deficit by cutting government spending over five years. The House is scheduled to vote on the package today.
bloomberg.com