Drilling for oil in the section of ANWR that was set aside for drilling for oil has been dropped by the House of Representatives. The measure had already passed the Senate. We will continue to be slaves to foreign oil, thanks to spineless Republicans in the House.

The decision to drop the ANWR drilling language came after GOP moderates said they would oppose the budget if it was kept in the bill. The offshore drilling provision was also viewed as too contentious and a threat to the bill, especially in the Senate.

Last week, the Senate included ANWR drilling in its version of the budget, so the matter will have to be thrashed out in negotiations between the Senate and House if the budget is approved by the House.

Protection of the Alaska refuge from oil companies has been championed by environmentalists for years. The House repeatedly has approved drilling in the refuge as part of broad energy legislation, only to see their effort blocked each time by the threat of a filibuster in the Senate.

Budget bills are immune from filibuster, so including it in the budget lowered the Senate votes required from 60 to 50.