Call in alert - threat to Arctic Refuge is back with budget proposal!!!!

[Great Lakes Organizer Gal]

Thanks to all of your hard work in 2005, a coalition of moderate
Republicans and Democrats in the House forced powerful congressional
leaders to remove Arctic drilling from the budget. As we begin a new
year, the lesson for the Bush Administration and pro-drilling elected
officials is simple. The American people believe that bending the
rules to attach controversial issues, like Arctic drilling, to
unrelated budget bills is unacceptable and unethical. Unfortunately,
President Bush is still not getting the message. Despite his
announcement in the State of the Union address that "America is
addicted to oil", President Bush is once again turning to the Arctic
National Wildlife Refuge in hopes of a quick fix to our energy
challenges.

It is hardly a surprise that the President has continued his six year
tradition of including Arctic drilling in his budget. However, later
this month Congress will have a truly unique opportunity to build on
the momentum from last year and to create a budget that excludes
provisions to open the Arctic Refuge to drilling. In order to make
sure Congress does this, they need to hear from you now! We must tell
our Senators and Representatives to heed the lessons of last year and
not waste time going down the same long and conflicted road again.

MAKE THE CALL TO PROTECT THE ARCTIC REFUGE

Call the Capitol switchboard (202-224-3121) and ask to be connected to
your member of Congress. This is your chance to have your voice heard!

· Once you're connected to your member, simply leave the message
with the person who answers the phone, "Please keep the Arctic Refuge
OUT of the budget proposal, and do everything you can to protect the
Arctic National Wildlife Refuge."

· Tell them that if the President is serious about addressing our oil
addiction like he said in last week's State of the Union, we need to
stop wasting time debating America's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge
and get on with real energy solutions.

· Ask them to do what they can to make sure that we put this debate
behind us for good

· Leave your name and address.

· Ask for a written response to be mailed to you

· Don't forget to say thanks!

For more information on the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge please
visit: www.alaskacoalition.org or www.alaskawild.org.

Thanks for your help!
Erika Schafer
Great Lakes Organizer
312-795-3744