In a big defeat for the Bush administration's national energy plan, the Democratic-led US Senate last night killed a White House proposal to let oil companies drill in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.
Republicans fell 14 votes short of getting the 60 needed under Senate rules to end debate on the controversial proposal and move to final passage of the measure.
The 54-to-46 vote also showed that a majority in the Senate did not support the proposal, the centerpiece of the Bush administration's energy initiative.
Five Democrats crossed party lines and supported the ANWR drilling amendment, while eight Republicans went against their party's position and backed keeping the refuge closed. Independent Mr James Jeffords of Vermont voted against drilling.
The administration and many Senate Republicans framed the ANWR debate as a national security issue, saying the refuge's potential 16 billion barrels of oil was crucial to reduce US dependence on crude from unfriendly countries like Iraq.
With congressional elections seven months away, Democrats said the ANWR vote showed they would not allow Republicans to weaken environmental protections.
"We are just not going to allow Republicans to destroy the environment," Majority Leader Mr Tom Daschle told reporters. "We believe that this is a dividing line between Republicans and Democrats, and we're willing to take it anywhere in the country. We feel that strongly about it."
Environmental groups praised the Senate vote. "It's a great victory for wildlife over (oil prospecting) wildcatters," said Mr Mark Van Putten, head of the National Wildlife Federation.