Washblog

"An amendment WILL NOT be offered that would strike ANWR from the budget bill.  Environmental groups have decided that they do not have the votes to pass the amendment, looking at the 49-51 votes the previous two-such amendments garnered.  As a result, they convinced Cantwell and Kerry to pull back the amendment.

Instead, they are concentrating on defeating the bill as a whole.  They are saying that moderates have previously voted for an amendment then voted for final passage, essentially claiming both high grounds - they voted to defend the ANWR and voted for the bill's passage.  What they will try to do now is force these moderates from out of cover and make the vote on final passage a matter of ANWR - if they vote for final passage, they are voting for drilling, period.

If they didn't have the votes for the amendment, and I guess they would know better than any of us, I suppose this is a better alternative, but my optimism has dwindled as such."

The legislative strategizing is hot and heavy over at Kos. The vote is very close.