House Dems push for more ANWR protection

The Democrats are also — either intentionally or not — looking to shore up a stronger executive-branch fortress against possible Republican attempts to drill in ANWR next Congress. 

Republicans have not laid out any formal energy agenda for next Congress, as they wait and see whether they take over either congressional chamber. They have in the past included drilling in ANWR in “all-of-the-above” energy strategies that emphasize both conventional and renewable domestic energy production.
 
Efforts to expand oil and gas drilling have taken a large hit following the Gulf of Mexico oil spill this summer, perhaps undermining any Republican effort to drill in ANWR or elsewhere even if the party controls either congressional chamber.