Fresh from an anti-drilling lobby in Washington, Yukon MP Larry Bagnell says the vote on the U.S. federal budget bill could come today or tomorrow.

Maintaining the pressure to remove provisions for oil exploration in the Arctic Wildlife Refuge is critical, Bagnell said in an interview Tuesday afternoon.

Bagnell said he found it somewhat surprising that some of the congressmen and senators he spoke with were only aware of the argument that allowing drilling would impact on the Porcupine caribou.

Some had no knowledge of what the impact on the caribou could do to the traditional lifestyle and culture of the Gwitchin people in the Yukon, Alaska and the Northwest Territories, he said.

There were some also unaware of the international treaty between Canada and the U.S. that obligates each country to consult with the other if it's planning any activity that would affect the herd or its habitat.

It's important that elected representatives in the U.S. understand and live up to the treaty obligation if drilling is approved, he said.

In what the anti-drilling lobby has described as dirty pool, the provisions for drilling were included in the federal budget bill, and not in a U.S. energy bill, where they felt it was more appropriately placed.

Those in support of the budget bill maintain that it's appropriate to include the drilling provision and the anticipated revenues.

Those opposed argue a budget bill is to spend money that you have, not what may or may not come from lease revenues.

The Senate passed its budget bill with the drilling provision by a tight vote of 51 to 49. While the budget bill put forward by the House of Representatives does not include drilling provisions, the house is 'massively in favour of drilling,' Bagnell explained.

For legislation to pass, both chambers must approve the wording of a joint bill crafted by a conference committee of senators and congressman. The joint bill was delivered shortly before noon, and is expected to be voted on this afternoon, Bagnell said.

He said staff in Washington were just poring through the joint bill shortly after noon today to determine if drilling provisions were included, though he has no reason to believe they wouldn't be.

The word in Washington is that they want the federal budget bill passed voted on today or tomorrow, before the week-long recess of the two legislatures beginning next week, Bagnell said.

He indicated if the bill does get through before the recess, it's likely to happen shortly after the Senate and House of Representatives reconvene May 9.

While the signs suggest the bill and the drilling provisions will pass, it's of the utmost importance to continue the lobby against opening up the refuge to exploration, he said.

'I guess the message back to the Gwitchin is, We will never give up the fight.''

Bagnell said pressure is also being exerted on the large international oil companies with an emphasis on how their public image may be tarnished around the world if they move ahead with exploration plans inside the refuge.

Led by the Gwitchin people of the North and the Yukon and federal governments, the anti-drilling has been successful for the better part of two decades.

But the U.S. election last fall resulted in a stronger, pro-drilling representations of in both the Senate and House of Representatives.