Oregonian - Friday Oct 28 2005 p A5

"Until this year [Sen Gordon] Smith's opposition to drilling helped prevent inclusion of the provision [to drill in the Arctic] in broader legislation such as the Senate's annual budget resolution.

"In a March 2003 floor vote Smith's opposition to the provision so angered its chief sponsor, Sen. Ted Stevens, R-Alaska, that Stevens took to the Senate floor to threaten retribution.

"People who vote against this today are voting against me, and I will not forget it," said Stevens, then chairman of the powerful Appropriations Committee.