Iowa’s Own Congressman Tom Latham Protests Lack of Action in Congress
Washington,
Aug 15, 2008 -
The month of August usually makes Washington, D.C. look like a ghost town. When the United States Congress adjourns for its end-of-summer recess, cab drivers usually take vacations, hotels cut their room rates and restaurants run specials to lure in the few people left in the nation’s Capital. But this year, things are different. More than 100 Members of Congress have returned to Washington to continue America’s most important debate: what to do about high gas prices.
When Congress adjourned for a five-week vacation on August 1st, a bi-partisan group of members of congress had been asking for the Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi, to allow for an up or down vote on energy reform for, at the time, a number of weeks. Unfortunately, the appeals went unanswered and the Speaker called the adjournment vote without taking up debate on lowering gas and energy prices. House Republicans, having been ignored for weeks-on-end, decided that it was time to do something. So… they held a protest.
With the lights out, the microphones off and the C-SPAN cameras intentionally turned away from the House floor, the Republican Members of Congress spoke anyway. They spoke to whoever was in front of them, to each other, raising their voices for the debate just like the Founding Fathers had to do. People from all walks of life filled the House Chamber to view American politics close-up. The rules of decorum were thrown out and for the first time in recent memory, the unelected people of the United States were allowed to sit down in the People’s House.
Iowa Congressman Tom Latham has been one of the more than 100 Members of Congress who have carried this torch, speaking without a microphone into a darkened House Chamber calling for the Speaker of the House to simply allow a vote that many in Congress believe most Americans would like to see. “… the vast majority of Americans who agree with us—that we’ve got to have American Independence on our energy issues—are being shut out of a vote,” said Latham to a nearly full House Chamber. “All we’re asking for is the opportunity to say, ‘Let’s go up or down on the American Energy Act.’”
“We’ve got to be very concerned about conserving our resources, to make sure we’re not wasting,” said Congressman Latham. As he continued to address visitors from all over the United States, he spoke of the need for alternative energy, for the continued development of wind and solar and for the creation of new nuclear facilities.
“This is about American energy independence. We also have to understand that for the next 10 to 15 year we’re going to continue to be very dependent on gas to run our economy.” America has not built a new refinery in over 30 years, putting us behind many other countries. Presently, the United States imports the vast majority of its oil from nations that are not always looking to be a benevolent partner to the United States. Saudi Arabia and Venezuela are countries that the United States imports oil from, and Congressman Latham, along with other Members of Congress, question whether or not that’s a smart move. “How about Venezuela, Hugo Chavez. Is that our good friend down there? I don’t think so… If we will actually go after the American oil that’s so readily available right here in this country… we don’t have to be as dependent on those people who really don’t have our best interests in mind.”
Like many Congressmen, Latham closed his comments with a call to action. “Talk to your representatives, make sure they know that you want a vote. Now if it doesn’t pass it doesn’t pass, but we should be able to have a vote in this House of Representatives to make sure that we have your voices heard on this floor of the House. And we can do that with your help. Please, call the number (202-224-3121), talk to your representatives. We can in fact have American independence and create really good high paying American jobs right here. And we can in fact have a great future for all these kids out here… grandkids… my grandkids. That’s what it’s all about. Think about it and act.”
As Congressional Recess continues, House Republicans plan to continue their protest on the House floor. Congressmen, like Congressman Latham, plan to keep up the fight to help American families, to lower gas prices and to enact meaningful energy reform. While no one can predict the future, it should certainly make for an interesting time on the House floor come September when Speaker Pelosi comes back to Washington.
