D.C. A similar budget measure failed last month in the House. Further, drilling opponents promise to filibuster, a Senate tactic to block a vote on the issue. Drilling supporters would need 60 votes to end a filibuster. With fewer Republicans, those votes may be elusive. How a vote would unfold in the House is unclear.
Supporters point to the Republican leadership.
Opponents note strong support last year to protect the coastal plain under a stricter designation as wilderness. With an issue so divisive, presidential support is key, said Roger Herrera, a former BP executive who now lobbies for Arctic Power. But political support may not be enough. It may take soaring fuel costs, to overcome deep national doubts about refuge development. Please tell us your thoughts about this topic.