When watching the PBS "News Hour" last night, they showed long excerpts of Senator Thune making the case for opening ANWR, which is one of the smartest votes the US Senate has made in a long time given the energy crunch. Why it has taken since the 1970s for this to happen says a good deal about the power of certain interest groups in DC. As part of the "News Hour" story, Senator Inouye of Hawaii said that 229 of 230 Indian tribes in Alaska supported the opening of ANWR. Anyway, the estimates of another million barrells of oil a day coming from ANWR makes this an obvious policy decision, it seems to me. And it's another sign that the new Senate, with a stronger GOP majority, is getting things done. Here's the story about ANWR that's in today's Argus. AVT notes that, more generally, Thune had a big day yesterday:
A Senior Aide for Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-TN) tells AVT this is, "single best legislative day in a decade for America - we have Thune to thank."
In a breathtaking advance for America and South Dakota - in one day - the following occurred:
1. Thune's Ethanol Bill (the largest ethanol bill in history) passes Thune's EPW Committee.
2. Thune shepherds the Senate Highway Bill (with huge increases for South Dakota) to passage. With Herseth negotiating SD to 46th in the nation in highway funding with the House version - Thune has much work to do in Conference committee.
3. New energy resources become available for America thanks in part to Thune's impassioned Senate speech about opening up ANWR.
Senate Dems shocked at GOP efficiency.
Herseth staff cringes at progress - to much work to soon.
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