Big Blow To Bush, Frist: Dems Defeat Drilling In Alaska Wildlife Refuge...

Associated Press H. JOSEF HEBERT December 21, 2005 at 11:54 AM
READ MORE: Bill Frist, George W. Bush
AP/Al Grillo

The Senate blocked oil drilling in an Alaska wildlife refuge Wednesday, rejecting a must-pass defense spending bill where the quarter-century-old environmental issue had been placed to garner broader support.

Drilling backers fell four votes short of getting the required 60 votes to avoid a threatened filibuster of the defense measure over the oil drilling issue. Senate leaders were expected to withdraw the legislation so it could be reworked without the refuge language. The vote was 56-44.

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