Posted on 08/13/2008 7:04:13 AM PDT by Tennessee Nana
WASHINGTON — Congress may have adjourned for a five-week recess, but the House floor has not remained silent.
All last week, House Republicans held court over an empty chamber, despite the dimmed lights and lack of C-SPAN coverage, sounding off against Congress’ adjournment without passing legislation to address high gasoline prices.
Reps. Zach Wamp, R-Tenn., and Nathan Deal, R-Ga., say they may join their colleagues later this month in their first-of-its kind protest.
“I voted against adjourning for recess and will continue fighting for a responsible energy policy that brings down gas prices,” Rep. Wamp said in a statement. “I am proud of my colleagues and our collective determination. I continue to communicate with them and hope to join them in the days ahead.”
A spokesman for Rep. Deal said the congressman tentatively is scheduled to join the protest in Washington on Monday.
Republicans have vowed to keep up their floor speeches until the start of the Democratic National Convention on Aug. 25, and they claim their protest has helped lower oil prices, saying the market is responding to it.
Democrats have responded by criticizing Republican energy proposals, which include increased oil drilling, as outdated and out of touch.
In a letter to House Minority Leader John Boehner, R-Ohio, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., said Republicans have been obstructing Democratic bills aimed at lowering gas prices through releasing oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, investing in alternative fuels and conservation and cracking down on oil speculators.
“While a very small band of your colleagues remain on the House floor to discuss gas prices, their constituents deserve to know why their representatives in Congress have failed to support serious, responsible proposals,” she wrote. “Using yesterday’s solutions to today’s problems will not allow us to achieve energy independence.”
Rep. Wamp, unlike many of his Republican colleagues, has voted in favor of many of the Democratic proposals, saying they contain measures to increase oil supply, which he supports.
House historians have said they do not recall any similar protests during a recess, the Chicago Tribune reported, though in 1995 Democrats staged a sit-in to protest a government shutdown due to a budget disagreement between then-House Speaker Newt Gingrich and former President Bill Clinton.
Meanwhile, Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., who holds the No. 3 leadership post in the Republican caucus, said he is supportive of a bipartisan energy package unveiled earlier this month by five Democrats and five Republicans, including Sens. Bob Corker, R-Tenn.; Saxby Chambliss, R-Ga.; and Johnny Isakson, R-Ga.
The $84 billion proposal calls for some increased offshore drilling while also providing tax credits for alternative fuels and significant investment in advanced biofuels and other technology. It is paid for by closing tax loopholes enjoyed by oil companies and levying royalties on new drilling leases.
“These are the right ideas: plug-in cars and trucks, conservation and producing more American energy,” Sen. Alexander said. “And this is the right way to get a result. The Senate should take up these bipartisan recommendations as soon as we reconvene in September, improve them and make them law.”
“I voted against adjourning for recess and will continue fighting for a responsible energy policy that brings down gas prices,” Rep. Wamp said in a statement. “I am proud of my colleagues and our collective determination. I continue to communicate with them and hope to join them in the days ahead.” ______________________________________________
Congressman Zach Wamp, my Representative...
Excellent!!
Wamp, Deal joining Cantor PING
I heard Zach speak on Monday...
He spoke of the GOP group still in the House now in glowing terms...
He’s proud of what they are doing...
DRILL, DRILL, DRILL
Do something for the American people...
:)
Woo Hoo!
Tennessee bttt!
About time my rep. Nathan Deal sounded off on this topic and will finally do something.
I am so ticked off at my senators that I can’t see straight. I have faxed, emailed and called them to voice my opinion to what they are doing.
Chamblis is up for re-election and will not get my vote.
Whether or not Pelosi calls the Dems back they lose...
This will go against them in Nov..
And strengthens the GOP POTUS nominee too...
Hmmm...wonder why he isnt already there. When I called his office on the first day they said he was on the floor w/ the other reps. In the mean time he must have taken ‘vacation’. He needs to be in DC now instead of messing about. Not sure what there is to ‘think about’.
Chambliss and our Corker are traitors..
The Gang of 10
He’s in TN but not on vacation...
He’s been speaking about the energy crisis everywhere etc...
A lot of these guys have prior commitments that they made for the scheduled recess -- not all of them can get them rescheduled/reshuffled at the drop of a hat. As long as a large number of reps are there everyday, it doesn't really matter that Rep. X wasn't there on day Y.
Don’t forget my OTHER Senator Isackson
They should already be there.
From what Zach said they are going to take turns being there...
So there will always be a GOP presence...
And remember there’s 200 of them so there will be quite a few at all times...
Nathan Deal is not my rep. mine is John Linder, I will thank Deal if goes though. I am fit to be tied over those losers, Chambliss and Isaakson!!!! Have been since the immigration debacle.
There is nothing worse than a woman gored...er scorned, especially an old dried up ugly one like the Peloser.
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