Over 1.4 million people have signed the Drill Here, Drill Now, Pay Less petition. Now is the time for America to continue to proclaim energy independence.
Congressman Paul Ryan (WI-01) addressed the need to drill here now recently on the floor of the People’s House.
Speaker Pelosi of course decided it was better to adjourn for a five-week vacation instead of addressing this energy issue by having a vote on the American Energy Act. House Republicans have responded by continuing a gas price protest at the People’s House and America is watching.
Coverage of the historic revolt is not limited merely to inside-the-beltway and national media. News outlets across the country are reporting on the uprising as well. Take a look at just a handful of headlines on the nationwide gas prices protest published today and over the weekend:
- “Republicans stay for shadow session; Porter, Heller join protest over energy” – Las Vegas Review-Journal, August 11, 2008
- “Georgia congressman sparks GOP energy ‘uprising’” – Atlanta Journal-Constitution, August 11, 2008
- “GOP hosts a House party to irk Dems” – Omaha World-Herald, August 11, 2008
- “Culberson goes high-tech in House rebellion” – Houston Chronicle, August 10, 2008
- “McCain, GOP urge Congress to cut summer break to talk oil” – Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, August 10, 2008
- “Putnam meeting locally on energy issues” – News Chief (Winter Haven, FL), August 10, 2008
- “Goodlatte at Capitol to Demand Energy Vote” – WHSV TV (Harrisonburg, VA), August 8, 2008
- “Bachus sees need for more domestic energy production” – Daily Home (Talladega, AL), August 9, 2008
- “Republicans Protest on Capitol Hill” – KOLO TV (Reno, NV), August 8, 2008
Indeed, all 199 House Republicans are engaged in the nationwide protest. Over the past 10 days, nearly 100 House Republicans have spoken with the American people assembled in the House chamber about the high cost of gasoline – and the need for more American-made energy to bring those prices down. And in communities across the country, every House Republican continues to hold Speaker Pelosi and her colleagues in the Democratic leadership accountable for their refusal to listen to the American people demanding more American energy in the face of today’s sky-high gas prices.
Now the pressure may be getting to Pelosi and her friends as Democratic leadership held a conference call yesterday.
Democratic leaders in the House discussed the possibility on Wednesday of offering a comprehensive energy package when Congress returns in the fall, according to leadership aides.
Details remain hazy from the Wednesday afternoon conference call, and one aide cautioned that “no final decision [was] made.”
But it seems clear party leaders are crafting a comprehensive energy package that would combine a Republican priority to open new offshore sites for oil and gas exploration with Democratic priorities, like tax subsidies for renewable sources of energy or new requirements for energy producers to generate more power from renewables, like wind and solar power.
Wait a second, offer a package AFTER they return from break? What’s wrong with voting on the American Energy Act now? Is it that hard to return to Washington for one day? Apparently House Republican leadership is correct, it’s nothing more than just talk coming from Speaker Pelosi and her friends.
“If Speaker Pelosi is truly sincere about having a vote on deep-ocean oil and gas drilling to help bring down fuel costs, she should use her power as Speaker to call Congress back into session immediately and schedule a vote on the American Energy Act,” Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) said in a statement released Tuesday morning.
“I was certainly encouraged to hear the Speaker last night suggest a willingness to allow the House to have an up-or-down vote on the merits of unlocking the potential of America’s abundant energy resources. But the proof will be in the proverbial pudding,” Republican Whip Roy Blunt (Mo.) stated.
Not surprisingly Congressman Kagen has been silent on this issue since his FIVE-WEEK vacation started. Ironic considering he issued this press release last month regarding American oil. So Congressman if you truly believe that America needs to begin tapping the available oil here at home why the continued silence? Why haven’t you issued any statements calling on Speaker Pelosi to call you back to Washington to address this issue now by having a vote on the American Energy Act? Or is it all just talk?
Memo to John Gard. Start applying the heat to Congressman Kagen by bringing this issue up daily with the local press.
