Senate Votes to Allow Arctic Oil Drilling

The U.S. Senate has voted 51-49 to allow drilling for oil in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. The Senate's action rejected an attempt by Democrats and moderate Republicans to remove the provision for drilling from next year's federal budget. Should Congress agree on the Senate-approved version of the budget, oil drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge could begin by winter of this year. A recent survey showed that 53 percent of Americans oppose drilling for oil in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.