Well-Rested Democrats Still Blocking Vote on American Energy Act
House Republicans Welcome Majority Back After Five-Week Break, Renew Demand for Vote on "All of the Above" Reforms Americans Want
Washington,
Sep 8, 2008 -
Congressional Democrats end their five-week break today – a stretch that saw Republicans conduct an unprecedented revolt on the floor of the House and in communities across the country against House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s (D-CA) decision to adjourn Congress without allowing a vote on the American Energy Act (H.R. 6566), House Republicans’ “all of the above” energy reform plan. But incredibly, even after Democratic leaders took a nationwide public pounding through the entire August break for blocking a vote on “all of the above,” the floor schedule set by the House Democratic leadership for the week ahead is once again devoid of any vote on comprehensive energy legislation, much less a vote on the “all of the above” energy reforms Americans want.
In other words, the Democratic Majority plans more politics as usual this month, continuing to block a vote on “all of the above” at the behest of radical special-interests that favor high gas prices and contribute huge amounts to Democratic campaigns, instead of scheduling the American Energy Act for a vote to help reduce fuel costs.
The American people want to shake up Washington, not settle for more of the same from their leaders in Congress. That’s why, on the heels of their historic protest, House Republicans today will renew their push for a vote on their “all of the above” plan. At 3pm today on the Capitol steps, just outside the chamber where the nationwide gas prices protest began last month, the House GOP will demand a vote on the American Energy Act – and pledge to work with the American people to hold Speaker Pelosi and her Democratic colleagues responsible if they continue blocking the plan. The American Energy Act is the House GOP’s “all of the above” plan to lower gas prices by increasing production of American energy, promoting more conservation and efficiency, and encouraging the use of more alternative and renewable fuels.
Throughout America, the GOP’s nationwide gas prices protest made waves – all while the Democratic Majority continued to play politics with the number one issue on the minds of families, seniors, and small business owners. And the American people have responded, strongly supporting the House GOP’s comprehensive plan to reduce prices at the pump – a plan that increases production of American energy to bolster a new renewable energy trust fund and pave the road to our energy independence. The Hill recaps the historic gas prices protest:
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“GOPers aired their grievances for a month this summer, including two uninterrupted weeks through two party political conventions, but their defiance will come to a halt when Congress reconvenes on Monday…”
“‘I think it has changed the terms of the debate,’ Republican Conference Chairman Rep. Adam Putnam (R-Fla.) said. ‘The likelihood of having a vote is greater today that it was prior to us engaging in this month-long process.’”
“A total of 136 Republicans turned a spontaneous effort to give floor speeches on gas prices and energy after Congress adjourned for the August recess into a month-long ‘speak-in’ on the House floor. Throughout the protest, Republicans repeatedly brought constituents down to the House floor in an effort to connect with them directly.”
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In the face of the House GOP’s success, Speaker Pelosi and her Democratic allies are scheming to continue blocking the American Energy Act – potentially by scheduling a bill loaded with poison pills or legislation that promotes (at best) “a little bit of the above,” rather than the “all of the above” energy reforms the American people expect and support. Congressional Quarterly has the details:
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“House Republicans were particularly active on the drilling issue, staging an unusual protest on the floor throughout the August recess. Members returned to Washington from their home districts to demand that Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., return the chamber to session and have an up-or-down vote on whether to lift the moratorium on drilling off the Atlantic and Pacific coasts.”
“And although Democratic leaders still appear unlikely to allow such a vote, it seems clear they can no longer avoid the issue. Democratic leaders in both chambers will bring to their respective floors possibly as early as this week legislative packages that will offer limited offshore drilling, opening up a handful of states on the Southeast coast. But both also will come bundled with provisions unpalatable to most Republicans…”
“Democrats appear to be aiming to bring their bill up for a vote in order to say they’ve held a vote on drilling, and then slamming Republicans who vote against it.”
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With just three weeks left until Congress’ next break, will the Democrats really continue to defy the will of the American people, even as gas prices remain high and home heating costs prepare to climb in the coming months?
