Moderate Republicans Spotted in the House? February 9, 2012, 5:57 pm Since Republicans took control of the House last year, their leaders have had to deal with near-constant revolts from their Tea Party-infused right flank. But with elections looming, opposition may now be stirring on their left from members in swing districts. Six House Republicans on Thursday sent a letter to their leadership opposing the opening of Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil drilling to help pay for a pending transportation bill. Opening the refuge "for exploration and development raises serious questions from both a fiscal and environmental perspective," the letter said. We believe that this measure can achieve broader support and better force Senate consideration if A.N.W.R. is removed. The six representatives who signed the letter were Charles Bass of New Hampshire, Robert Dold of Illinois, Michael G. Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania, Nan Hayworth of New York, Timothy V. Johnson of Illinois and Dave Reichert of Washington. Going back to the Republican majorities of the 1990s, environmental matters in general - and the Arctic refuge in particular - have splintered a small group of Northeastern Republicans from their leadership. Most of that group is long gone from the House. But the six that signed on to Thursday's letter might be the stirrings of a new moderate wing of the House Republican Conference. Mr. Bass was a noted moderate before he was defeated in 2006, only to return in 2010 on the Tea Party wave. Mr. Reichert is a perennial Democratic target. Redistricting has put Mr. Dold and Mr. Johnson high on the endangered incumbent list, and Mr. Fitzpatrick and Ms. Hayworth come from classic swing districts. With tough re-election campaigns coming, House Republicans of all stripes may be looking for ways big and small to assert their independence from an unpopular Republican leadership.