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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purplepeep:
She’s just trying to save the environment. After all, she has one helluva Carbon Footprint to work off from that book of hers.
would need to see that, because every report i’ve read so far, and posted here previously, shows that just ANWR has enough oil to last approximately 8 years by itself, IF we dont send any of it overseas.
i’d be happy to read the data you’ve got, and compare.
Now we know which Republicans to keep. The old guard losers can kiss off.
Rip, remember Pete Olsen for CD-22! Send Lampshade packing!
It’s now at least 8 years since Bush tried to expand drilling and the Democrats refused. 10 or more since Clinton and his Democratic friends refused.
How long are the Dems going to keep kicking the can down the road and saying “it won’t help – it will take 10 years to see the results.”
Watch for the “Obamanation of Desolation” – coming to your theaters this fall…
The story is now on the front page of the cspan web site.
What ever that means; I called my Representatives’ DC office and told them to “Get a camera in there!”
Michelle can you use come of your contacts to get us some eyes and ears on the House floor? I don’t have much to contribute but I’ll send a few bucks to help with expenses.
Yes. This is a conversation the whole Congress should be having right now. And yes, drilling should be on the table, but only as part of a comprehensive plan that prioritizes conservation and alternative sources.
If the repubs meet the dems halfway on that, I say let em drill. And I have zero problem “spoiling” the pretty vistas off the shore. I am sure people hated telephone lines when they first went up. But you get used to it and eventually, they just become part of the background.
GO ROB BISHOP!!!!! My rep is on the floor!!!
GO GO GO!!!!
Action, courage, determination from the Republicans? Surely a sign of the last days.
For those who are distressed by this development, remember — it could just be a bad dream. Pinch yourself and you might wake up. If it doesn’t go away, console yourself that at least G.W.B. won’t be part of any “leadership” thing, whatever that is.
Who cares about the 8 – 10 years to actually see the oil. I’ve seen the price of gas drop from $3.99 to $3.61 simply because Bush wants to start using our own resources. Imagine how much further it would drop if Congress would do the same thing.
I’m sick of your democrat talking point.
That is the plan, drill now to cover us till we move to something else.
Just called Lynn Westmoreland’s office in DC to send my approval. Stick with it and keep making the Dems look like the fools they are.
I think thats fair, chap, and i know that there is alot of talk on both sides of the aisle for alternative fuel sources. As technology and the marketplace push forward, we’ll see these develop and i’m not sure it would take 10-15 years…we’ve got decent options on the table i could imagine being available in 3-5.
This is the kind of leadership I recognize and appreciate from the House R’s.
On a day when BHO announced that he wants to give me $1,000 and then tax me $1,000, we are in desperate need of real support from Washington. Without Wash DC standing in the way of drilling, we’d be enjoying our natural oil resources now.
Hear hear.
I called the white house comment line and asked for the special energy bill session.
Vote Republican. Vote for drilling our own oil.
I hope to see some video on youtube. Where is the press!! absent?
There isn’t really an alternative fuel source to replace (or even significantly supplement) oil. Carbon damage is a myth.
When i hear serious sounding people talk alternatives, I have to smirk. Gas is the fuel, people.
A media blackout and the power shut off so when does the siege begin? The Chinese communists have nothing on these democrats. Somebody send these hard working people some pizzas.
Very interesting. This comes right after Sen Robert Casey (D-PA) sent me an email touting the Dems plan to control speculators, as if THAT were the entire problem!
But like others here, I worry that the MSM will not cover this revolt.
So i suppose nuclear, plasma, water based, or other such advances…those dont really count right?
Yes, gas is a fuel. It’s not the *only* fuel.
Or is there some other point you have to make?
tgusa, good idea, EVERY send one pizza to the floor. Can the press ignore 3000 pizza delivery people showing up????
Send floors chinesse, anything that delivers. I am on it now.
floors = flowers oops.
Excuse me, but do you really believe we can build an entirely new societal energy infrastructure, out of unknown technology, in less time than it takes to build a single pipeline, and wells which take WEEKS, not YEARS to drill???
Abstract – none of those alternatives are even close to being ready for a mass market with the exception of nuclear for electricity. The only alternative to gas for autos is natural gas, but it is not ready for prime time yet, and guess what we have to do to get it?
you are all being too hard on the democrats… I am sure they are all out putting air in their tires and making an appointment for a tuneup… They’ll be back soon….
Congressional “stunts”? Give me a break. Dems invernted the “stunts”. Remember the constant filibustering of Bush appointee’s? Goodness, it was understood you did not use that procedure for appointee’s. Did the Dem’s care? Your Dem congress earned their rating with their “stunts” thank.you.very.much.
Oh, check out the link provided with the Dem “sleep-in”. Waht a freakin joke of a “stunt”.
How has “controlling the Speculators” worked out for the Onion markets? Not so well.
Onions are the only commodity that the US government has ever banned speculation on, and as a result onion prices have become even MORE unstable than they were before the ban.
Forget sending them candles, send them torches and pitchforks, even better go to DC and carry them in your hands as you march towards the capital building! make sure the cameras see it. maybe the dims will get the message….
Rorschach, you call him Lampshade? I’ve got a different nickname for him though I won’t post it here since it might be a violation of the terms of use. Suffice to say it was suggested by repeated viewings of the district marker on the inbound feeder of 59 at Kirkwood next to the Harley store as I drove past. It’s a rather obvious and juvenile play suggested by seeing the image of his name directly over a U-turn arrow.
And Olson and any other Republican running against Lampson automatically got my vote the second the Democrats filed a lawsuit to keep the Republicans off the ballot back in ’06.
Its front page DRUGEREPORT now. The cat is well out of the bag. Pizza on the way.
Interesting – the Republicans care about you & me? Even though these are oil people (Bush – Cheney)? And these prices have spiraled out of control under their watch? But – the conclusion is that it’s the democrats fault?
I’ll bet this argument isn’t taken very seriously in the reality based world.
This is one of the finer points the true Socialists can’t understand; if the world oil cartels are artificially inflating prices, the risk that we will loose our Wildcatters onto our own reserves will cause oil supplies to pour out faster than the world can use them.
If, on the other hand, it takes our own resources to increase supply, it buys us the time we need to develop viable alternatives. No alternative will ever be successful if a cheaper option exists (e.g. Oil) or it has to be subsidized by the very energy it purports to replace (e.g. solar, wind, hydrogen, et al.)
The final point is that at the end of the first Gulf War, when Saddam left Kuwaits oil fields in flames, we were told it would be an ecological catastrophy that would take years to extinguish. It took what, 3 months with no serious harm to the environment?
That’s the way we do it.
October 1, 2008 is the big day people. On that day, the congressional drilling ban expires unless congress affirmatively acts to extend it. We will win this argument. The Dims will lose it. This is the October surprise Obama does not want to see. Hammer him and Pelosi and Reid with it. Pound them into the dirt. Kick a mudhole in their arse and then walk it dry.
Your right. Harry and Nancy not allowing this matter to be voted on is a ploitical stunt to keep Obama from having to vote NO on this issue.
Rip, I call him Lampshade in polite company, I too have a different name for him in person, one that is most definitely a violation of the terms of use.
sonofdy,
Great, I’m checking into it right now! It seems to me that this is an opportunity for some smart store owners around the capital to get in with the house republicans, expand their customer base some free advertising and such.
As much as I love the idea, I would actually urge the President to not call Congress back for an emergency session. IMO, there are procedural gimmicks and then there is over the top. The power to convene congress for emergencies should not become a common procedural tactic used by presidents to circumvent the will of Congress.
That said, I’m as conservative as they come (and from right across the bay from San Francisco, no less!). Nancy made her bed, now let her fester in it. Dumb (w)itch.
Its not just pain at the pump, more importantly it is enonomic pain that will last for many years.
I am disappointed at the few names of those who participated. But at lease we have a potental start.
Remember the stories of Rip Van Winkle and the sleeping giant??? Do you think either or both apply here?
Where is the MSM on this issue? A republican revolt on the congressional floor should be at least mildly newsworthy. MSNBC reports on Walmart’s moblilzing against Democrats and jobless rate at a 4-year high (damn Republicans!!). But nothing about Pelosi closing down congress for 5 weeks of vacation. I assume we are paying these clowns for their vacation. Anyway, they deserve it, they accomplished so much in the previous months.
the gunfighters awake..
sorry, been reading Steven Kings ‘The Tower’ series..
No…but I do want to see the commitment to progressing that way NOW. So tie the investment in R and D to the drilling issue. That way in ten years, fifteen years, whatever, we won’t be in the same situation that we are now. It is inexcusable that we allowed ourselves to get into a situation that was entirely predicable and there is more than enough blame to go around on both sides of the aisle.
Also, bring back nuclear.
Starts out so very very good…and then gets so very very strange.
You’ll see what I mean.
Reading Pete Hoekstra’s twitter page it would appear that the Capital Hill police are there with strict orders to shut them down at 4:30.
It feels good to be proud to be a Republican again.
heh I already know – this is my 4th reading of the series..
“it would appear that the Capital Hill police are there with strict orders to shut them down at 4:30″
On whose authority?
..and I hope they stay on.. let them just try and arrest the Republicans, maybe then the multitudes of idiots out there will begin to see exactly what’s in store for them should they continue to support Obama.
Hoekstra doesn’t say. I would assume on the same authority that the lights, mics, and tv-cameras were turned off, i.e. Pelosi’s.
Its a great series of books, one of Kings best works. unfortunately King gets bored in the last book.
Does this congressional episode remind you of the Tower? The gunslinger maybe?
These few who have stood up do remind me of Rolond!
That wasnt quite my point. my point was, there are other methods. they need to be explored. yes, oil needs to be used in the meantime, but…we have other methods. But time is a resource we have to spare i think, and its obvious that oil isnt going anywhere overnight…but it something we can address as we move forward.
Lest we also forget the guy in texas running the mustang at 110 miles/gallon…if we cant get new sources, how about maximixing our current ones?
yup allrsn, that’s why I mentioned it
If you are going to send anything in support, go through your reps office. So many people are showing up that they are increasing security.
And I don’t doubt your data, I was merely speaking in terms of time-to-market.
DNC lies…this is accoring to EIA data, you know the goverment agency headed by a Bush appointee.
Glad to see the Repub’s finally grew a pair. GIT ‘ER DONE!
Thanks for misquoting me. There are oil sources availiable in less than a year if we dig EVERYWHERE. Why are you ignoring half the story? What is your next excuse? Thats all I hear from democrats is excuses.
how TOS quoted me
What I actualy said.
Now that would be a visual that would put this over the top, video of the Capitol police swinging batons and arresting Congressmen on the House floor. Pelosi would be brought up on impeachment charges so dang fast it would make her head spin.
Abstract – my point is this: The people I trust least to come up with any change in our sources of energy in the government. They cannot “guide” or “encourage” or “predict” what will work best. Leave it up to the people outside government working in their own self interest to come up with the methods and ideas. You know, CAPITALISM.
Can’t find anything on the news about it.. CNN not a mention, couldn’t find any tv station covering it.. wow :/
Twitter is being overloaded with all the people checking on on Pete Hoekstra and John Culberson’s tweets. This is freaking historic.
http://twitter.com/johnculberson
http://explore.twitter.com/petehoekstra
Thanks Rorshach – seems that’s the only coverage anywhere.. absolutely stunning that this is not all over every news channel.. this more than anything else is demonstrating just how much the American public are spoon fed..
This is not America.
If we do nothing, then we have squat 10-15 years from now. What if the technology doesn’t pan out, then where will we be? Will this technology that should be around be fully up to speed? Remember, these are the same people that said amnesty in 1987 was the end of illegal immigration. Does anyone believe that to be true now?
As far as the Reps taking a stand, this is the change we’ve been hoping for.
Please please please Republicans don’t back down come 4:30pm, or it will have all been for nothing.
fair, and not being obtuse. the time to market along with the amounts stated at times fluctuates. i honestly think if we had more refineries and other facilities, we could cut down production times.
Thank GOD the MSM does NOT run the show any more!
Finally, some leadership, individually and collectively! Way to go Republicans! You are beginning to demonstrate you really do have a pair! Don’t let up. I personally will call, write, anything I can possible do to support your effort. Energy independence is our issue. Take it, run with it, grow it and sell it to the American people.
The LIST so far:
http://gatewaypundit.blogspot.com/2008/08/house-republicans-refuse-to-vacate.html#comments
I’m not ignoring half of the story. The battle in Congress right now is over the OCS. That is what the Republican congressmen are “protesting” about. So, basically there is no excuse need by me. But you can keep on deflecting if you’d like.
REPUBLICANS, DIG IN AND FIGHT!
So I am sure TOS is not upset that china will drill this oil from 50.001 miles from the cost but we can’t. And he refuses to admit there are other sources arround that the dems are also blocking.
BWAHAHAHA..
“Update 6: Rep Devin Nunes (R-Calif.) just pretended to be a Democrat. He stood on the other side of the chamber and listed all of the GOP bills that the Dems killed.
He then said, “I am a Democrat, and here is my energy plan” and he held up a picture of an old VW Bug with a sail attached to it. He paraded around the House floor with the sign while the crowd cheered.”
[link]
TAKE NO PRISONERS!!!
On August 1st, 2008 at 4:27 pm,
You are exactly right about refineries…even if we had all of this oil from ANWR or the OCS, we wouldn’t have the capacity to refine it. We haven’t built a new refinery in over 30 years and we import about 13% of our refined gas because our current refineries are already functioning at capacity.
“even if we had all of this oil from ANWR or the OCS, we wouldn’t have the capacity to refine it”
Great – that means more jobs and more stimulation of the economy building a few new refineries – this just gets better and better.
FOX has it here. Unfortunately it’s not considered “breaking”. They call it “bizarre”?
And why again hasn’t a refinery been built in 30 years? Could it be the same people trying to stop us from drilling our own oil and stopping our money from going to foreign oil? *gasp*
and
stoppingkeeping our money going to foreign oilHas Czar Nancy unleashed her Fascist storm troopers to drag out the Republicans who are just trying to carry out the will of the people yet?
davenp35: last i heard they just removed all the tourists
You might want to keep in mind who you are calling fascist storm troopers.
Don’t blame the Capitol Hill Police for getting caught in the middle of this circus.
Tip to tourists. If you ever find yourself in DC near the Capitol, and you get in trouble, guarantee a call to the Capitol Hill Police will get a quicker response than DCPD.
I believe the “tourists” would include any reporters that were in the galleries. Freedom of the press is a big no no in the Republic of Nancy apparently.
agreed.
i know in south dakota(?), the people there are pushing for a new refinery, but there’s alot of pushback from environmental groups and their friends to prevent construction.
I know we have the ability to build these in an environmentally friendly way, and building more facilities injects more money into the local economy, creates jobs, and generates revenue for the county and state. Seems like a win for everyone, but yet people dont want it done. Sad.
I have been channel surfing, I did not find a single word either.
WAIT, fox id mentioning it right now, no detail so far
Fox reported ‘they’ will be back. Maybe Sept.
Sure the Clean Air Act of 1990 has made it more costly to build new refineries. But they can still obviously affored it, but why would they want to? Why would they want to increase supply and deflate the prices. They seem to be doing quite fine these days without them.
Fox ended coverage went to new subject.
very shallow and limited coverage of congress.
I see the same old tired arguments on the board by the libs. Well, we don’t have refineries, well it will take too long to develop the oil, well we just can’t do it –whine, whine, whine.
Drilling will bring good paying jobs–to America and Americans. Building new refineries will bring good paying jobs–to this country. Nuclear will create good paying jobs. Extracting coal and the continued development of clean coal technology will bring good paying jobs to America. Collectively a good sound policy will bring us energy independence and maybe we won’t have to send $700 Billion American dollars overseas to those that really don’t like us.
And for the libs that say it will take 10 years, [this is one of their preferred numbers] to build nuclear,drill for oil, refineries to come on line, I say get government out of the way, fast track these industries and as Americans we will get it done in short order. Government is the problem and has been for 30 years.
They DO want to they have spent millions in courts trying to, The left will not allow them to expand capicity in any area of energy.
democrats find it hard to address anything of substance, and at the end of the day they do what they do best, go home.
Some how a group of REA’s were able to get a new super clean coal plant built in ND. There is only 2 sources of this coal known to exist. One is in south south america and one is in WY.
Clinton turned the WY source into a nationl park so we lost our source of super clean burning coal.
I do not know what the plant did to deal with this, but it is running.
Alternative energy powered CFLs. None available – huh?
Because every single time a company even mentions their intentions of building a new facility, the envirowhackos file lawsuit after lawsuit after lawsuit to stop it in its tracks. That’s why.
Peaceful coexistence – burn the coal from the national park, and the occasional roasted elk is lunch for the workers.
Unfortunately, this act is just symbolism over substance. Great theatrics for what? There will be no media coverage. I will say it was thoughtful of the hand full of right of center republicans to try to do something.
Bush should let the congress go home. Then go to town with recess appointments to fill the vacancies in our courts.
Thanks to the mass media, this may have amounted to nothing ..unless the Republicans come back Monday morning.
I’ll say that again.. unless the Republicans come back Monday morning.
I despise Pelosi – apparently a 5 week holiday spent promoting her POS book is more important to the treasonous old bat than this country is.
This is the work ethic I expect out of our elected representatives. Kick ash!
The Democ Rats don’t care if gas hits $10 a gallon, so they will pshaw the whole thing as a silly stunt. It may be a stunt, but it’s no laughing matter. It’s supposed to draw attention to a problem most Americans want handled ASAP. But the majority in Congress suffer from the Obama Syndrome. One symptom is the attitude that if a tree falls in the woods (or if injured soldiers are nearby) and no media are there to record the moment, then it didn’t really happen, so what’s the use?
??? Tourists – OK
House Republicans
Can Stay
They are OUR elected OFFICIALS …
Are they????