March 21, 2003

Mei-Ling Hopgood mhopgood@coxnews.com or 202-887-8328

Washington, D.C. - Senator Mike DeWine, R-Ohio, stood firm even under political pressure this week, and continued to vote against drilling in an Alaskan wildlife refuge.

The question remains whether it could come back to bit him.

On Wednesday, the powerful chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Senator Ted Stevens, R-Alaska, made not-so-veiled threats of punishment against some senators who voted against oil exploration in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.

"I make this commitment: People who vote against this today are voting against me, and I will not forget it," he said on the floor before the Senate voted 52-48 to keep oil exploration out of the fiscal year 2004 budget.

Stevens has considerable control over which projects and programs get funded, including local projects. DeWine is the Republican with the least seniority on the Appropriations Committee.

DeWine, who had voted for drilling in the past but last year changed his position, joined seven of his Republican colleagues to strike the drilling measure from the budget Wednesday. His fellow senator from Ohio, Republican George Voinovich, is an outspoken proponent of drilling and voted to keep the measure in the budget.

On Thursday, Stevens declined to comment on his threat or on DeWine's vote. His press secretary said Stevens' comments speak for themselves. His angriest comments seemed directed toward people who may have told him [that] they would vote for drilling in the past.

"You bet your bottom dollar I'll remember [this vote]," he said afterward. "If I ever give my word, I keep it. I'm mad enough to eat nails right now, to have people not keep their word to me."

DeWine also declined Thursday to comment on possible repercussions or his relationship with Stevens. DeWine, in his two years on the Appropriations Committee, has been successful in securing money for Ohio projects.

"Ted feels very strongly about this issue, and I understand it," DeWine said. "I feel that I will continue to be able to be very effective on the Appropriations Committee."

DeWine voted for arctic drilling in 2000 and 1995, but decided last April to oppose opening the refuge, known as ANWR.

He said [that] the risks outweigh the benefits, and the impact of drilling or accidents on the fragile area is too high. He has been the target of heavy lobbying from all sides.

"I understand that reasonable people can disagree about this," DeWine said Thursday. "It's a tough issue. I felt that this is the right thing."

Senate opponents of drilling killed the proposal last year with a filibuster. Stevens, President Bush and other supporters hoped that this year's shift in power to the Republicans in the Senate, as well as the war and rising gas prices, might work in their favor.

Wright State University political scientist Robert Adams said Stevens "may have been -- in the heat of the moment -- spouting off, but it is certainly something DeWine has to take into account … Stevens would be in a position to hurt DeWine."

But Adams also predicted [that] the two would smooth things over behind the scenes, in part because -- in the closely divided Senate -- the leadership needs the vote of Republican moderates such as DeWine.

"I think Stevens will think better of it when he gets the chance to calm down - He needs votes and cannot afford to alienate a member of his own party," Adams said.