Day 11: House GOP's Nationwide Gas Prices Protest Making Headlines Across the Country
Washington,
Aug 15, 2008 -
August is usually a quiet month for Congress. But with families and small businesses paying high prices at the pump – and more pain on the horizon when home heating bills arrive this fall and winter – House Republicans have made this August unique. Rather than joining the Democratic Majority for a five-week break, House Republicans have sparked a nationwide gas prices protest – taking to the House floor and communities across the nation to demand a vote on the American Energy Act (H.R. 6566), the House Republicans’ comprehensive plan to increase production of American energy to lower gas prices.
Much to the chagrin of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), the GOP-led uprising, which began two weeks ago today, has garnered significant national and local media attention – not to mention the attention of thousands of Americans who have heard the Republicans’ “all of the above” energy message firsthand inside the House chamber and at gas stations, rotary club meetings, and other community events across the country. A story in today’s New Orleans Times-Picayune – titled “House Republicans Drill Point Home Over Break” – provides a glimpse into the type of coverage the House Republicans’ revolt has been getting for the past two weeks:
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“No votes are being cast and C-SPAN’s cameras aren’t turned on, but that hasn’t stopped more than 100 House Republicans from appearing on the House floor during the past two weeks to demand a vote on increased domestic drilling for oil and gas…”
“Freshman Rep. Steve Scalise, R-Jefferson, one of the 109 Republicans who have attended at least one of the almost daily mock GOP House sessions during the August congressional recess, said he is hearing from constituents who can’t understand why Congress is taking a five-week summer vacation with important items to be resolved.”
“‘Let’s debate the issues,’ said Scalise, who is spending the first two days of the upcoming Democratic National Convention taking fellow Republicans to tour Gulf Coast oil rigs. ‘And if this issue is voted down, let’s go onto the next one. But let’s at least have a vote. That’s what the American people expect.’”
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Attention to the historic protest is not limited simply to Washington, DC and New Orleans media. From coast to coast, the revolt is making headlines. Following are just a handful of news stories on the uprising published in the last few days:
- “GOP Debates Energy in Silent House” – Des Moines Register, August 15, 2008
- “Simpson Headed Back to Washington” – Idaho Mountain Express, August 15, 2008
- “Michigan Republican Spends Recess on House Floor Drilling for Vote” – Toledo Blade, August 15, 2008
- “‘Sit-in’ in Congress Staged” – Cincinnati Enquirer, August 14, 2008
- “Gas Prices on Agenda as Congressman Meets with Law Enforcement” – Joplin Globe (MO), August 14, 2008
- “Davis, Chabot ‘Sit-In’ for Energy Vote” – Kentucky Enquirer, August 14, 2008
- “Rehberg Continues Criticism of Congress over Drilling” – The Missoulian (MT), August 14, 2008
- “McHenry Lays Out His Answer to Energy Crisis” – Morganton News Herald (NC), August 14, 2008
- “Shimkus in Washington Despite Congressional Break,” – The Southern (IL), August 14, 2008
- “Blackburn Returns Again to Push Energy Vote” – Tennesseean, August 14, 2008
- “Rep. Hastings Says Drilling the Answer to Energy Self-Sufficiency” – Tri-City Herald, August 14, 2008
- “Congressman Urges Push on New Energy Bill; Local Schools Struggling with Gas Prices” – WJRT TV 12 (MI), August 14, 2008
- “LoBiondo Talking Energy” – Bridgeton New (NJ), August 13, 2008
- “Heller Joins GOP Gas-Price Revolt in U.S. House” – Ely Times (NV), August 13, 2008
- “Shays Calls for Offshore Drilling at Energy Forum” – Greenwich Post, August 13, 2008
- “Hensarling Asking for Your Signatures on Energy Petition” – KLTV TV 7 (TX), August 13, 2008
- “Pitts Joins GOP Energy-Plan Fight; Congress Adjourned, But Republicans in D.C. Pushing Oil Proposals” – Lancaster New Era, August 13, 2008
- “Kuhl Pushes for Vote on Energy Plan” – Press & Sun-Bulletin (NY), August 13, 2008
- “New Drilling Must be a Part of Any Energy Plan, Gallegly Insists” – Ventura County Star (CA), August 13, 2008
- “No One Easy Solution To Oil Crisis, Wamp Tells Kiwanis Club” – The Chattanoogan, August 12, 2008
- “GOP Strikes Energetic Pose on Energy Policy” – Minneapolis Star Tribune, August 12, 2008
On the House floor and in communities across the country, every House Republican continues to hold the Democratic Majority accountable for its refusal to listen to the American people – and its refusal to allow a vote on the American Energy Act. How much longer will Speaker Pelosi and her colleagues continue to deny American families and small businesses a real vote on more American energy and lower prices at the pump?
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