MONEY OVER ENVIRONMENT

REVENUE

It's not the concern of the gas shortage or need for other sources of oil that is driving Bush's plan to open up the wilderness lands of Alaska for drilling, its the money. Bush is looking at the fact that the oil companies will pay $2.4 billion for drilling rights in the wildlife refuge over the next five years.

Nevermind the fears that others have at what this will do to the proposed federal budget.

The cost of drilling and exploration will affect budgets from both Houses:

The House and Senate budget bills squeeze savings from a variety of programs, including Medicaid, farm subsidies, student aid and insurance for private pension benefits. The Senate bill would cut $39 billion from the projected growth in federal benefit programs over the next five years, while the House measure calls for $53.9 billion in savings.

Senator Richard J. Durbin of Illinois, the Democratic whip, said drilling on the coastal region would only yield a small amount of oil which then would be sold on the foreign market.

Has everyone forgotten the Alaskan Pipeline? Last I heard its still in operation. Where is that oil going?