With oil prices hitting record highs and pretty much every state now over $3.00 per gallon for gas, Senators Ted Stevens (R-AK) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) are again attempting legislation to successfully open up ANWR for drilling.

ANWR is an area approximately the size of Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island combined. The area we would be drilling in would be about as large as the Charlotte International Airport, a mere speck. It is absurd that our government continues to block access to our own natural resources, but we have China drilling off the coast of our nation.

Alternatives to oil are inevitable in the long run, but in the short term we need to be increasing the supply available to bring down the high prices. If the Democrats truly cared about the poor (the only thing they care about is their vote) then they would stop standing in the way of this every time it is brought up. Opening up ANWR would also be a financial boom to Alaska and create lots of jobs. This should be a decision left to the people of Alaska, not a bunch of bureaucrats from 49 other states.

It’s time the Democrats and a hand full of RINOs stop this reactionary pandering to extremist environmental groups and do the right thing for the American people.