Harris Blasts Nelson's Votes Against ANWR

HARRIS BLASTS NELSON'S VOTES AGAINST ANWR

Tuesday, October 31, 2006

TAMPA - Republican U.S. Senate candidate Katherine Harris said today that Bill Nelson's consistent hard-line opposition to domestic oil drilling in Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) is irresponsible and demonstrates a disturbing proclivity on his part to put his close ties to liberal environmental groups ahead of U.S. national interests.

"ANWR represents a critical national security issue on which Sen. Nelson and I strongly disagree." Harris said. "I support drilling in Alaska and those in Congress who have been fighting for almost two decades to demonstrate that such drilling can be conducted while protecting the environment. My opponent supports the radical liberal groups who have been leading the fight to block such drilling by erroneously claiming that it would put vast expanses of lush pristine wilderness in dire jeopardy - which it will not."

Harris noted that the plan for ANWR energy exploration and production calls for drilling on only one small uninhabited portion of ANWR - a small section of land which would be the equivalent of a postage stamp on a football field.

This barren parcel of Arctic tundra, which is frozen solid for much of the year, is about 2,000 acres - representing a mere 0.001 percent of the 19 million-acre ANWR refuge. With modern safe directional drilling techniques, the ANWR environment will be more than adequately protected.

"This is an example of the kind of serious issue where the citizens of our state can help make a difference for America and help reduce our dependence on foreign oil. I appeal to Floridians to take the time to review the facts about ANWR and to support my candidacy on the basis of what's right for America."

A positive vote on ANWR will allow America to tap into domestic energy reserves equivalent to 20 years of imports from Saudi Arabia.

"Bill Nelson believes that domestic oil production should not be part of America's future national energy strategy," Harris said. "He is wrong, and voters must hold him accountable."

Katherine Harris, the Republican Candidate for the United States Senate, currently serves as the Representative for Florida's 13th Congressional District. After receiving an MPA from Harvard's Kennedy School of Government, she continued a distinguished career in public service to her native state that began in the State Senate and as Florida's last elected Secretary of State. She resides in Longboat Key with her husband Anders Ebbeson and his 24-year-old daughter, Louise along with the constituents of District thirteen.

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