Dec. 21 (Bloomberg) — U.S. Senate Republicans failed to muster the 60 votes necessary to end debate on legislation that includes a provision to allow oil drilling in Alaska’s Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.

The drilling provision is attached to the $453 billion defense budget for fiscal 2006, which passed the House Dec. 19. Democrats, with help from some Republicans, used a procedural tactic known as filibuster to block consideration of the bill.

The 56-44 vote fell 4 votes short of the three-fifths margin needed to cut off debate. Republicans have 55 seats in the 100-member Senate.

Bloomberg

The “help of some Republicans” came from DeWine and Chafee. The Ohio GOP is beyond screwed up. I thought we had it bad here in Pennsylvania, but having lived in both states I can safely say Ohio’s GOP is far worse, and that is hard to imagine. Is DeWine really this obtuse?

I’ve said it many times before. With Republicans like these who needs Democrats?