Steady on ANWR for Rep. Reichert

Rep. Dave Reichert should not aid and abet the Bush administration's wretched record on all things environmental with a "yes" vote to drill in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.

Punching holes in the Arctic wilderness has always been more about shoving a thumb in the eye of the Greens than any timely, affordable and predictable recovery of oil. This is pure politics disconnected from acquisition of a resource. Reichert's suburban Eastside 8th District is no longer the safe, Republican sinecure his predecessor, Jennifer Dunn, was elected to in 1992. Democrats are a greater part of the mix, as results of recent presidential and legislative elections attest. Environmental values cross party lines in this state, and the 8th District is a prime example.

Voting to drill in ANWR is not popular with Reichert's colleagues of all stripes, so with exquisite cynicism, the GOP leadership tied drilling to a budget bill larded with pork and requiring fewer votes to pass.

Reichert was not elected to make easy votes. His early independence made an impression. Opposing ANWR is important, and so is the congressman's "no" vote.