Spoiling the view

Kudos to Norm Coleman (R-MN), who opposes oil drilling in a wildlife refuge.

The article tells us the numbers stand at 51-49 in favor of drilling. And since it's slipped in as a budget provision, there's no filibustering at all. Which means Democrats and Coleman need to get two more Senators to switch sides.

The article says Maria Cantwell of Washington and some guy named John Kerry will be leading the fight. I wish them the best of luck.

*UPDATE* Add to the count Lincoln Chaffe, who is also willing to fight:

On Wednesday, Sen. Lincoln Chafee, a moderate Rhode Island Republican who opposes drilling, conceded he'd have to change at least one vote from 2003 to prevail.

Pressure is on Democrat Daniel Akaka to switch his vote against drilling which, if Chaffe is right, should be decisive. Let's hope he's right.

*UPDATE* That was easy:

House Budget Committee Chairman Jim Nussle (R-Iowa) has opted not to address a controversial Alaska drilling initiative in his new budget resolution, saying yesterday that such a move would threaten to take down his entire bill.

The move is a significant blow to proponents of opening the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) for drilling. If the final House-Senate budget resolution does not protect ANWR under reconciliation rules, the ANWR bill would require 60 votes in the Senate, instead of the 50 it would require under reconciliation.

Many people on Capitol Hill believe that the ANWR bill has more than 50 votes but is well shy of 60.