House Dems push for more ANWR protection

House Democrats are seeking stronger Obama administration protection of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR), which featured prominently in a largely symbolic fight over oil and gas drilling during the George W. Bush administration.
 
The Democrats are asking President Obama for “the strongest possible protections” for the refuge ahead of the 50th anniversary of the establishment of ANWR Dec. 6. 
 
“In this historic year, we ask that you grant the Arctic Refuge the strong protections it deserves,” more than 50 Democrats wrote Obama Thursday. 

The Democrats are also — either intentionally or not — looking to shore up a stronger executive-branch fortress against possible Republican attempts to drill in ANWR next Congress. 

Republicans have not laid out any formal energy agenda for next Congress, as they wait and see whether they take over either congressional chamber. They have in the past included drilling in ANWR in “all-of-the-above” energy strategies that emphasize both conventional and renewable domestic energy production.
 
Efforts to expand oil and gas drilling have taken a large hit following the Gulf of Mexico oil spill this summer, perhaps undermining any Republican effort to drill in ANWR or elsewhere even if the party controls either congressional chamber.