ANWR tests spirit of bipartisanship between Sens. Murkowski and Cantwell
Maria Cantwell
But that bipartisan spirit was tested Thursday as  Republican Chair Lisa Murkowski (Alaska) and ranking Democrat Maria Cantwell (Wash.)  clashed over whether to open the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to drilling.
With the tax package on center stage in the House   the senators  sparred on the other side of the Capitol over whether to allow drilling on one of few undisturbed parcels of land in the United States. The sparring foreshadows the partisan rifts that are likely to divide the upper chamber over paying for a tax package that Republicans need to claim as an accomplishment.
âFor those of us who call Alaska home  to suggest that  we  would despoil  our  environment for short-term gain is offensive â Murkowski said.
The committee meeting turned tense at times  with  Cantwell  pressing  her  Republican counterpart about why the bipartisan energy bill has been abandoned to take up the ANWR question yet again.
âThis hearing is a great departure from the strong working relationship that Sen. Murkowski and I have set to work together on an energy agenda that will move our country forward â  Cantwell  said.
âI almost want to call this âcaribou for millionairesâ because it is the most ridiculous idea Iâve heard as it relates to meeting the tax reform agenda â  she  added.
 Cantwell  and Sen. Angus King (I-Maine) countered that that figure discounts the impact of roads  airports and pipelines necessary to bring the oil out of the refuge and to the stateâs primary petroleum artery  the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System.
At one point   Cantwell  held up a map showing   she  said  that drilling âwill take up a significant portion of the refuge.â
But that bipartisan spirit was tested Thursday as  Republican Chair Lisa Murkowski (Alaska) and  [TGT] clashed over whether to open the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to drilling.
With the tax package on center stage in the House   the senators  sparred on the other side of the Capitol over whether to allow drilling on one of few undisturbed parcels of land in the United States. The sparring foreshadows the partisan rifts that are likely to divide the upper chamber over paying for a tax package that Republicans need to claim as an accomplishment.
âFor those of us who call Alaska home  to suggest that  we  would despoil  our  environment for short-term gain is offensive â Murkowski said.
The committee meeting turned tense at times  with   [TGT] pressing  her  Republican counterpart about why the bipartisan energy bill has been abandoned to take up the ANWR question yet again.
âThis hearing is a great departure from the strong working relationship that Sen. Murkowski and I have set to work together on an energy agenda that will move our country forward â   [TGT] said.
âI almost want to call this âcaribou for millionairesâ because it is the most ridiculous idea Iâve heard as it relates to meeting the tax reform agenda â  she  added.
  [TGT] and Sen. Angus King (I-Maine) countered that that figure discounts the impact of roads  airports and pipelines necessary to bring the oil out of the refuge and to the stateâs primary petroleum artery  the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System.
At one point    [TGT] held up a map showing    [TGT]   said  that drilling âwill take up a significant portion of the refuge.â