Floor revolt: No vacation for House Republicans; GOP calls for special session on gas prices; Pence: “Prepared to stay here as long as we can;” Update: Pelosi crackdown?!; “God Bless America”
Scroll for updates…4:05pm Eastern…Pelosi moving to crackdown?!…2:00pm Eastern. 40 GOP congressmen come to the floor. Pence: “We’re prepared to stay here as long as we can”…Live Twitter updates from Rep. John Culberson! “Min Whip Blunt speaking now describing our bill to drill here drill now to get us through the next 10 to 15 years till we can get new tech…12 minutes ago from TwitterBerry…We are speaking without microphones – as though it were 1908 – acoustics of House chamber are good and gallery and you can hear us…Video here…Session ends to the tune of “God Bless America…”
Just got this heads up from a Hill staffer. The Democrats may have gone on vacation, but House Republicans are on the floor today, working on behalf of taxpayers to push energy proposals forward. Nancy Pelosi, meanwhile, is busy hawking her miserably performing book–currently ,1726 on Amazon.com:
From: Stipicevic, John
Sent: Friday, August 01, 2008 11:39 AM
Subject: WHIP FLOOR UPDATEAlthough, this Democrat Majority just Adjourned for the Democrat 5-Week Vacation, House Republicans are continuing to fight on the House Floor. Although the lights, mics and C-SPAN camera’s have been turned off, House Republicans are on the Floor speaking to the taxpayers in the gallery who, not surprisingly, agree with Republican Energy proposals.
All Republicans who are in town are encouraged to come to the House Floor.
***
Update: From the Republican Study Committee, a call for President Bush to convene a special session on gas prices.
Just do it!
Congressman Jeb Hensarling (R-TX), Chairman of the House Republican Study Committee (RSC), and Congressman Mike Pence (R-IN), former Chairman of RSC, today urged President Bush to call for a special session of Congress after the House adjourned without allowing a vote on comprehensive legislation to develop more American energy and help the millions of Americans currently feeling pain at the gas pump.
The text of their letter is below:
The President
The White House
Washington, D.C. 20500Dear Mr. President,
The House of Representatives has not taken a vote since January 2007 that would expand domestic energy production. All the while, Americans are hurting. Every time they go to fill up their cars, trucks or tractors they feel the pain at the pump. High gas prices are harming the vitality of our families, the elderly, small businesses, and family farms. Each and every American is affected.
Today the Democrat controlled Congress adjourned for a five-week vacation without taking a vote on bipartisan measures that would lessen our dependence on foreign oil by allowing more domestic drilling on the Outer Continental Shelf. In fact, they adjourned without even allowing time for debate on the subject of drilling.
On July 14, 2008, you took the strong action of lifting the executive order that had banned offshore drilling. In so doing, you said that allowing offshore oil drilling is “one of the most important steps we can take” to reduce the burden of high gas prices. Now, all it would take is an act of Congress for that drilling to begin.
Since Speaker Pelosi has decided not to keep the House in session to allow this vote to take place, we urge you to use the power vested in you by the Constitution to convene an immediate energy special session of Congress. Under Article II, Section 3 of the Constitution, you have the power ‘on extraordinary occasions’ to convene the Congress.
We believe that the energy emergency that has increased the pain felt by Americans when they purchase $4 per gallon gasoline is an extraordinary occasion. We urge you to immediately bring the Congress back into session to do its job and give the bipartisan, pro-drilling majority a vote.
Thank you for your consideration of our request.
Update. 2:00pm Eastern From GOP House leader John Boehner’s office…
In a dramatic revolt against House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s (D-CA) refusal to allow Congress to vote on legislation to increase American-made energy and lower gas prices, House Republicans today refused to leave the House floor after Speaker Pelosi adjourned the House for the five-week August break, staying in the chamber to speak directly to Americans watching the historic event unfold above the floor in the House gallery. Even after lights, cameras, and microphones in the chamber were turned off, House Republicans were undeterred, continuing to make speech after speech demanding that Speaker Pelosi listen to the calls of the American people – including those coming from whistling, applauding, and cheering Americans sitting in the gallery – for more environmentally-responsible drilling for oil and gas here at home to reduce the price at the pump. Rep. John Culberson (R-TX) defied the Democratic majority by providing live updates on the protest via Twitter directly from the House floor.
Members participating in the spontaneous uprising included Reps. Roy Blunt, John Boehner, Michael Burgess, John Campbell, Eric Cantor, Shelly Moore Capito, John Carter, Mike Conaway, John Culberson, Charlie Dent, Jeff Fortenberry, Virginia Foxx, Louie Gohmert, Pete Hoekstra, Duncan Hunter, Thaddeus McCotter, Mike Pence, Tom Price, Ted Poe, Adam Putnam, Bill Sali, John Shadegg, John Shimkus, Tim Walberg, and Lynn Westmoreland.
The protest came just minutes after House Republican leaders delivered a letter to Speaker Pelosi demanding that she call the House back into emergency session this month to deal with America’s ever-worsening energy crisis.
Leadership. Finally.
***
Maybe the Republicans should bring in cots a la Dingy Harry Reid. Jim Hoft says bring ‘em candles. I love it.
More: Pizza call!
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Trackbacks
- Democrats Vacation While Republicans Continue Work on Energy Bill | Skeptics Global Warming
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- House Republicans Want a Vote! « Axis of Right
- The Republicans are Staging a Revolt on the U.S. House Floor
- Awesome! Republicans Revolt on House Floor Over Drilling for Oil : Stop The ACLU
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- Michelle Malkin » GOP revival: Twittering the House revolt; Hoekstra: “Our voices can’t be shut down”
- GOP Smiths go to Washington - UPDATING | The Anchoress
- Drilling: The Election Issue Of All Election Issues : Stop The ACLU
- Drilling: The Election Issue Of All Election Issues | McCain Blogs
- Drilling: The Election Issue Of All Election Issues » Pirate’s Cove — Give No Quarter!
- Revolt On The Hill: Republicans Refusing To Leave House Chamber, Members In Shorts And Sandals | THE HOT JOINTS
- Breaking News: Democrats Leave Town For August Recess — Republicans Refuse To Go Because of OIL CRISIS « Obama Goes To Washington Weblog
- DemsAdjourn, turns off the lights, sound, kicks press out, GOP Stay « POLITISITE: Politics from the RIGHT Side of the WEB
- A reminder that we need solid conservatives in the House « Down the Ticket
- Friday Afternoon Silly Season Theater « The Political Inquirer
- House Dems turn out the lights but GOP keeps talking! - Republican Discussion Forums
- Why These Republicans Deserve Your Support
- Call for a Special Session « Memoirs From a Young Conservative
- GOP Called It Quits Too Soon | Democrat=Socialist
- Democrats Begin Vacation, Ignore Drilling « The Sisyphus Files
- House Republicans revolt « Try 2 Focus
- Rhymes With Right
- We cannot be silenced! | Bearing Drift :: Virginia Politics and Podcasts
- Follow the #dontgo « Blogs for McCain
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- Republicans Filibuster on Behalf of Americans, Dems go on Vacation(Updates) « The Foxhole
- Democrats Go On 5 Week Vacation. Republicans Refuse To Vacate Untill Energy Vote.
- Right Wing Nation » Blog Archive » GOP Working
- The Dan Lee Report » Blog Archive » Obama says “That’s not the Barry Obama I knew” on Offshore drilling? Flip!
- Michelle Malkin » Rock the House: What should Republicans do now?
- Democrats Go On 5 Week Vacation. Republicans Refuse To Vacate Untill Energy Vote. - Page 14
- The Birthplace of the Process of Illogical Logic
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- Welcome to the Dark Side « Obi’s Sister
- Republicans stand up… when it doesn’t count! « Cowardly political musings…
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Damn, I wish I could be there!
“Although the lights, mics and C-SPAN camera’s have been turned off…”
How much MSM coverage will this get? I’ll be holding my breath….
And I, too, wish I could be there to support them.
That is a brilliant tactic. Stay in Washington, work on the people’s business and demand that the democrats return to get something done. Dare the MSM to ignore them. Show the American people the dramatic contrast between themselves and the democrats and the democrat-loving media. Win-win!
Now if we could get CNN to turn their cameras back on, so the entire country can see what “the most ethical Congress in history” is getting us.
I was thinking this morning, that I hope the Republicans emphasize what we have gotten with Democrat controlled house and senate. When they took over in Jan 2007, gas was $2 per gal less, oil was $60 bbl less, and unemployment was 1 1/2 – 2 % less. The democrats are going to blame the current economic woes on Bush and the GOP controlled congress (not that they are blameless), but we had pretty good economic times up until Nan & Harry took control.
They don’t even need to resort to attack ads, just state the facts.
But since the RNC is being run by idiots, probably not. All the pundits are still predicting more seats going to the dems this year in spite of the possibilities.
Please, please Republicans don’t cave on this.
L
The MSM has shut down for 5 weeks too? WOOOOHOOOO!!!!
/max sarc off
Biased? You bet. The is no news if the Dems leave? Come on C-SPAN you cowards.
Here, here! Get this done — with or without them.
Wish I could be there. I hope the people in their district give them hell when they come home to pander.
This would make for great marketing material for this coming election…
While the do-nothing Democrats are sipping on their Pina Coladas (on beaches, on their yachts, etc., promoting their personal books), the Republicans are actually working (on the floor).
Now, what do you prefer? Politicians on the government’s dole doing nothing? Or Politicians actually DOING something?
Republicans controlled the House and Senate and Presidency for six years and their biggest accomplishment was the Schaivo fiasco. They have no business complaining about Democratic inaction now.
I haven’t had rocks drop that fast.
The energy issue is a big winner for the Republicans, and it looks like they’re taking advantage of it. The Democrats are their own worst enemies. The Democratic Congress and the Democratic Presidential nominee are shooting themselves in the foot, in different ways maybe, but still doing it.
No kidding.
Where is Lee Attwater when you really need him. Really too bad he’s gone.
Yeah, libtard guano machine says that if others do wrong, it justifies one’s own wrongdoing.
Idiot.
This? Pretty darn awesome. I’m having a geek spaz just thinking about it.
I’m sure C-SPAN’s lights, mics and cameras that are breathlessly covering Obama’s speeches aren’t being turned off.
Oh Lord I pray people could just ignore the blathering idiot.
Amen
Sent a tip into Fox News. Maby they will cover it if enough people ask.
LGM is ONCE AGAIN changing the subject. The Schavio fiasco? Please, give me a list, right here, right now, of what the Democrats have accomplished since the last election.
You are such a marooon.
LGM is not a maroon, rather an uninformed jacka$$.
Interesting development, I wonder how fast that toad Nancy will run back to D.C. if Bush agrees to an emergency session of Congress?
lgm writes, “Republicans controlled the House and Senate and Presidency for six years and their biggest accomplishment was the Schaivo fiasco.”
Heh.
You know, maybe I was wrong. Maybe I should join with others as together we enjoy your unabashed display of ignorance.
LGM – Both Pelosi and Reid are the two worst majority leaders in history. I’m not aware of a less productive congress than the one’s they’ve presided over.
Blaming Republican’s – using the Democrat’s favorite coined phrase “failed policies” – for their own failures won’t cut it. Effective leaders are able to get bills through regardless of partisanship. The good one’s know how to compromise to get the country’s business completed. The bad one’s do nothing but divide and attack, harkening to their liberal base.
Pain at the pump! If prices continue to rise, I see pain at the polls for many incumbents.
It’s not just the refusal to do anything about domestic oil production; the donkeys are taking a “vacation” despite failing to pass even one appropriations bill.
That hasn’t happened since sometime back in the 1950s.
In virtually any capacity in the private sector, taking an unearned vacation after getting nothing of any significance accomplished on the job would be begging the boss to say, “While you’re at it, go ahead and make that a permanent vacation.”
Yet the donkeys are counting on not just getting re-elected, but on actually gaining seats in Congress in November.
Hubris, pure and simple. The Republicans have the proverbial Silver Bullet in their hands right now with the energy issue; the only question is whether they’ll surprise us and not somehow miss the shot at point-blank range.
“Although the lights, mics and C-SPAN camera’s have been turned off…”
Five minites after Rush mentioned this they turned the lights back on. According to Rush, Pelosi was behind the no-lights, no-mics, no-TV order.
On the plus side – if cameras aren’t allowed it means we’re assured Obama won’t be popping in for a Congressional visit.
BOOYAAAA
I hope like hell Bush has the balls to do it.. might be hoping in vain though, it seems he’s already switched to
the dark sidethe darker side.I surprised not to see a piece here about Barry O’s pandering energy plan. He’s gonna take money from Exxon and give all potential voters (except taxpayers) $1,000. Sounds like he’s been talking to Hugo Chavez.
lgm, You know you could just try not blaming the gop for every single DNC failure, give it a go. I have been condeming GOP inaction on this topic for YEARS. Do try to keep up.
———–
To the same people here, is thata pair I see the GOP growing???
#10 lgm YOU’RE A MORON.
They controlled for 12 yrs and 8 of those we had a Dem in office remember him Bill Clinton…….At least they got stuff done they may have been a little spend crazy but Newt got thing done.
The Dems have been in for 2 yrs and have not 1 thing has been accomplished but, boondoggle entitlement bills!
Get a CLUE!
This looks like a “Mr. Smith Goes to Washington” moment.
This is a brilliant move and will show once and for all that conservatives want the gas prices to go down. . .and liberals want them to go even higher.
This is the type of conservative government I like: One that does the will of the people. Democrats try to IMPOSE their will on the people, thus vacationing right now because they like the high prices.
Hopefully, McCain will make a campaign commercial with Barack Hussein Obama’s insane remarks about filling your tires to save gas, along with the Congressional Democrats taking a vacation.
I certainly hope this happens. It will make the dems look like the fools they are!
If the Dim-ocrats leave and nothing gets accomplished, then how is that anything other than “business as usual”??
Robin Hood…socialism…absolutely a joke. And, by the way, inflate your tires!
All bets on the table 9% approval plummets to 2%
Oh, one more thing…what is so hard for him to understand that this will result in skyrocketing oil prices. Um, supply will decrease immediately…
Wow! It was in the 900s yesterday and 1,457 this morning. Meanwhile, Obama Nation, Dr. Jerome Corsi’s expose’ of the chosen one, was 9 this morning and has now moved up to 5!
What absolute babies the Dems aqre for turning out the lights and barring the press from reporting on this. This is something that would have happened in the Soviet Union…people really need to take note of the Dems Fascist tactics.
Rush stated that Nancy P. turned out the lights-but turned them back on after Rush’s “head’s up”..Thanks again-Rush for being a leader!
I was shocked when Rush stated that the Republicans were still in Wash DC>>>
Republicans showing b—-backbone
There’s hope YET!!!!!
Nancy Pelosi, meanwhile, is busy hawking her miserably performing book–currently 1,726 on Amazon.com:
When I checked late last night “Obama Nation” was at #11. Looks like it could hit #1 soon if this pace keeps up. At any rate, a runaway bestseller by any count.
Stay hard Republicans!
*
This would go a long way in showing the stones that others and me have been looking for as an excuse to get back into some sorta action.
*
The “C-word” pegorative has implicitly been for “conservative” long before it morphed into today’s, “celebrity.” Time to lead the country back to its humble, basic values. Leave the “N-word,” for the PC demogages and liberals (redundant?). “Nuance,” of course.
Free Republic is reporting that the lights were shut out on the Republicans in the House.
Someone needs to bring them some candles and keep the cameras rolling!
woo hoo Republicans! Finally, doing something productive. Very happy to see this.
eblesz,
One thing that the Obamessiah and most other democrats have never learned is that no company accepts a tax increase. They merely pass it along to the customers or take it out of their expenses, typically payroll. With many companies, they just pack up and move overseas. In all cases, this hurts those they profess to be helping.
Will there be another stimulus plan to cover the gas price increase the oil companies will use to pay the tax?
Will they extend unemployment benefits to help those the companies laid off to cover the tax?
Will they ever use empirical data to show the futility of their ideas and see what the law of unintended consequences has in store for them? (never would be a good answer)
Yeah, what’s with that? Income redistribution plan at its best. Well, if we take money from profits from energy companies, what’s to make them stop at that? How about phone companies? How about corporate America in general?
You know what will happen if we do that? They will all raise prices to make up for it.
Idiot.
#10 lgm said:
Republicans have been complaining about democrat inaction since Clinton vetoed ANWAR in 1995.
Dems can turn off the microphones and the lights, but I hope that all remaining Repubs with principle turn the Capitol lobby and steps into a public forum on the energy issue.
If there is any groundswell, I will drive down to DC and join it.
Actually LGM, Republicans tried for six years to increase domestic energy prodcution, but Democrats…and John McCain…BLOCK IT with filibuster after filibuster after filibuster. The price of gas rests entirely on the backs of Democrats and eco-fanatics.
Glad to see you ‘fess up to the Dem’s “inaction”, lgm. Their “inaction” is impacting working-class families all across this nation. But, I don’t suppose that matters to the likes of you.
LGM LGM LGM
Leave it to LGM to tell conservatives how to think–just like Pelosi and Reid. I guess you all are supposed to keep quiet despite high gas prices because of some disjointed concept of fairness by the great LGM.
We have every business because gas prices are through the roof and Islamists who are taking advantage of a weak EU are building mosques and spreading their radical views all over there.
I would like to thank conservatives for preventing an unnecessary death. LGM apparently would prefer to take the easy way out, which is probably one reason why he/she doesn’t respond to me.
lgm,
but this is the most ethical congress ever! surely you dont mean they’re just sitting on their laurels?
And why are you whining about someone doing something to lower the price of fuel? Werent you the one complaining last week about the price of fuel in relation to drilling?
Did not have time to read all comments so I hope I am not repeating what someone else has said.
Now is the time to call or e-mail your Republican Rep and thank them for staying on the job. I have e-mailed with my complaints, today I am e-mailing my thanks!
So what’s the odds, Bush won’t do it. No matter what the pain for the American people, Bush won’t.
The Democrats filibustered the energy plan, drilling ANWR and killed off any chance of increasing America’s supply of oil. There was no way to get past the drive-by DNC parrot media.
Naw, on the Rush Anniversary thread he came out as a closeted Limbaugh listener. Rush is still on the air, so give it til at least when El Rushbo signs off.
On August 1st, 2008 at 12:49 pm, lgm said:
Democrats controlled Congress for forty consecutive years and all they have to show for it is food stamps and Vietnam.
It was Democrat inaction that created the need for food stamps and our humiliation in S.E. Asia.
I remember when Gingrich got into a lot of trouble with the Dems for writing a book. He ended up givng the proceeds to charity.
Mind you, he was a white male Republican.
What, pray tell, does Schiavo have to do with the democrats complete refusal to allow a vote on drilling? I know there’s a connection in your mind but I’m having a very hard time seeing it. Perhaps you’d care to explain it for all of us? Can you clearly and concisely explain to me how that has anything to do with requesting a vote and demanding that democrat representatives go on the record regarding drilling for oil?
Anxiously awaiting your reply…….
A while back we took a vote and decided that flenser was an idiot. In the spirit of that movement, I’d like to nominate lgm as –
“Lord Of The Idiots”
Any seconds?
Aye.
I seem to remember a former democratic speaker who got in book trouble when unions bought cases of the books to creat a kickback. I wonder who’s buying this piece of uh,- crap.
I’d like to nominate lgm as -
“Lord Of The Idiots”
Any seconds?
( The crowd roars ) “Aye”
Any dissents?
( One lone voice ) ” No ”
The motion passes….
See? Already more productive than Congress…..
If Harry Reid was banging an Airdale on the Capitol steps, lgm would call that PETA reform.
I make a motion that nominations cease and lgm be elected by acclimation!
BOOYAAAA x’s 2
Well, I guess it would have helped if I have refreshed my screen and seen that it was a done deal, before I posted that last.
Okay. Blind_Mule, wherever you are, you need to take the lgm pic and put a crown on it and, maybe, give him a scepter in place of his club.
Don’t count on it being around too long…
I am following obamas example on the LGM thing.
“present”
Now…if word of this can get out into the mainstream press (which I doubt), maybe we’ll see a groundswell of public opinion force things back in session. It’ll be some vacation when every democrat senator gets hounded at every turn to get back to work.
Meanwhile Obama wants to give everyone 500 dollars to pay for the high price of gas.
Of course he will have to raise taxes 1000 dollars to pay for that giveaway.
If Bush helps out the House Republicans, it will be the first time in his presidency.
They could not ignore it if Bush called Congress back into session.
Actually the biggest accomplishment was keeping democrats out of power. We see what happens when the numbskulls are back.
“We” meaning “we pro-war liberals who infest this blog like fleas”.
lgm is a classic liberal…when the libtards screw up, they blame conservatives for something in history that’s not relevant to the current issue. The libs can’t compete in a rational debate and they can never accept responsibilty for anything that goes wrong. They remind me of my kids when they were 4 years old.
Somebody is ignorant of history. Among the people who approved of the action taken with respect to Schaivo were several left wing Democratic Senators. Tom Harkin was one. Barack Obama was another.
Unfortunately I don’t have a Republican Rep. I live in Tom Delay’s old district which means I’m stuck with Nick Lampson as my rep. So now is the perfect time to email him and tell him since he feels its appropriate to be taking a vacation instead of working on the current energy problems I’ll be voting for his opponent come November. Should be interesting to see what sort of response that gets considering he faces an uphill battle to hold onto his seat given that this district traditionally leans Republican.
‘Bout time they grew a pair. Now if only the Pres. and Senate would do the same..
.
Its about time House Republicans did something dramatic. Way to go, guys (and gals)!
This is just the sheer ego of Pelosi and the Democrats – putting themselves first and foremost and their determination to spite the Republicans, at the expense of Americans, the economy, and the United States itself. Pelosi should be facing contempt charges and jail time. It could not be any more clear they they are NOT acting in the interests of the United States.
Way to go House Republicans. ^5
Welcome to the new USSR comrades. Call Czar Nancy’s office and ask her why she hates free speech so much.
Sounds like a election year publicity stunt to me…question: if this were not an election years would they be doind this?
There is as much chance Bush will call a special session as McCain.
I can’t stand either RINO. Of course, if Bush does this, I’ll have to retract almost every nasty thing I gave said about him.
It’s on drudge. It should be on top. This is big news. Spression of the press, congress ignoring the peoples needs…
Never mind that…
Check out The one…
Do not be drinking any beverages…
Yes, the Democrat side of the most ethical congress ever takes a 5 week holiday when the country is in extreme crisis.
Exactly what kind of ethics are those pray tell?
Dems preventing a vote protects BO from having to vote “NO”.
A NO vote would not play well with the voters.
I would believe so…i mean, this is an issue their constituents are incredibly charged over. could be a stunt, but…at this point, its a guess on either side.
pelosi as a leader is comical to the point of being a joke. she is so astute as a leader, that she couldn’t lead a pack of dogs to water if they were standing in it.
Digga, I will pay more attention to your warnings. Cleaning my desk and monitor….
What a ballsy, in your face ad.
cspan just flashed a message about it accross the house channel, “coverage not allowed”
Theotherside: Why do your heros in the DNC care more about special interests like the tree huggers than 75% of the country?
dnc response to the countries needs:
Democratic response to GOP floor session
Per Pergram-Capitol Hill
From a senior House Democratic Leadership aide when asked if they would shut down the floor:
“Who cares? I’m in a meeting actually working
from the fox news urgent queue