Lieberman: Arctic drilling a 'deal breaker'

A climate bill cannot include drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, said Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.). 

He said allowing ANWR drilling "would be a deal breaker."

“That is just not going to happen,” Lieberman told reporters in the Capitol on Thursday.

Republicans have long called for drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR). Lieberman's  comments come a day after Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), who is considered a swing vote in the climate debate, said she wanted ANWR drilling included in the discussions and suggested it could be the price of winning her support.

But Lieberman, who has championed efforts to keep ANWR permanently off-limits to drilling, said oil development in the Alaskan refuge won’t be in the mix.

“We are looking at a lot of things, we are bending to bring people in, but that one is a no-no,” he said.

Lieberman is trying to craft a compromise climate and energy plan with Sens. John Kerry (D-Mass.) and Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.).

The plan that the Senate trio is crafting is expected to include several measures aimed at winning support from Republicans  and centrist Democrats, such as expanded offshore drilling and major new federal support for building nuclear power plants.