It's a long list of economic benefits that Washington gets from North Slope oil.

We are now producing a significant amount of oil from the North Slope of Alaska, all (with) environmentally sound technology, ... That environment has not been disrupted ... it's in as good a shape as before we ever put a drill in there.

[Just about the only thing about which both sides agree is that the recent run-up in oil prices, which began well before Hurricane Katrina, has been caused because demand for oil - spurred by growth in China, the generally healthy economic condition of the Western world, and other factors - has caught up with supply.] The world produces about 85 million barrels a day, ... That's where demand is now, too. And I've seen forecasts that demand is going to be higher than that by the end of the year.

If you don't have a refinery operating, it's hard to use oil that's available.

When he's down in Washington, he basically does what his Republican leaders tell him to do. And when he postures for the folks back home, it's always on a losing effort.

We're all ranchers down here. We don't have the time to go to Washington on a set date. It's pretty costly.