Some House Republicans plan to be back on the floor this week, continuing their protest over the Pelosi-led end run around voting on increasing drilling opportunities. While the House is out of session, the hubbub on the floor last Friday played well to many Americans who are growing impatient with legislative inactivity in the face of increased gasoline costs.
More than a dozen Republicans have already committed to make appearances, according to House GOP leadership aide, including National Republican Congressional Committee Chairman Tom Cole (Okla.).
Rep. Tom Price (R-Ga.) and Mike Pence (R-Ind.), who lead Friday's five-hour talkathon after the House shut down for the August recess, are also expected to be there, according to this aide.
"In an urgent memo sent to GOP Members and staff Saturday (“A Call to Action on American Energy”), Republican Leader John Boehner (R-) and Whip Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) hailed Friday’s action, and encouraged House Republicans to return to the Capitol beginning Monday morning to help keep the historic effort going," said a press release just released by Minority Leader Boehner's office.
“It’s not a request we make lightly. But the American people are suffering,” Boehner and Blunt said in the memo. “The consequences of continued congressional inaction on gas prices are unacceptable. We’ve called on the Speaker to call Congress back into an emergency session this month and schedule a vote on the American Energy Act. We must continue to make a stand until the Speaker complies.”
The session will not be televised, as the cameras C-SPAN uses are not their own, but rather are under the control of Speaker Pelosi. I am guessing there will be a few spectators there with recording equipment, however. If I was in the DC area and the time to do so, attending this would be #1 on my to-do list.
Even ABC's George Stephanopoulos decided to try his hand at being an objective reporter today, (ahem) drilling Pelosi repeatedly over her reasons for not allowing an up or down vote. Check the link to read her dodges - I'll just post his questions, as they illustrate my belief that Pelosi is even losing much of her party over this issue.
GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS, HOST: You've been getting a lot of heat for not allowing a straight up or down vote expanding drilling off the coasts of the United States. Why won't you permit a straight up or down vote?
STEPHANOPOULOS: Except it’s not just Republicans that are calling for this. Members of your own caucus say we must have a vote. Congressman Jason Altmire, let me show our viewers right now, says, “There is going to be a vote. September 30 will not come and go without a vote on the opening the Outer Continental Shelf. The message has been delivered. The issue can't be ignored any longer.” He says he speaks for a lot of Democrats. He's talked to the leadership and a vote must happen.
STEPHANOPOULOS: But if you feel you have the better arguments, why not give a straight up or down vote for drilling?
STEPHANOPOULOS: Well, if you’re right, why not let it be debated out and have the vote?
STEPHANOPOULOS: So what exactly are you trying to say? You say you might allow a vote as part of a comprehensive package, but you won’t allow a vote on --
STEPHANOPOULOS: Yet you brought those measures to the floor in a way under the suspension of the rules so that it couldn't be amended with a drilling proposal.
STEPHANOPOULOS: But why not allow votes on all that? When you came in as Speaker you promised in your commitment book "A New Direction for America," let me show our viewers, you said that “Bills should generally come to the floor under a procedure that allows open, full, fair debate consisting of full amendment process that grants the Minority the right to offer its alternatives.” If they want to offer a drilling proposal, why can't they have a vote?
STEPHANOPOULOS: I want to move on to other issues. Just to be clear, you are saying you will not allow a single up or down vote on drilling. But you will allow a vote on a package that includes drilling?
STEPHANOPOULOS: So you’re not going to permit a vote, you may get beat, but you're not going to permit a vote on your own?
STEPHANOPOULOS: But that’s what I don’t understand. If you could get votes on everything else that you care about which you say there is strong bipartisan support, why not allow a vote on the drilling as well?
I've got to give Stephanopoulos credit. He refused to allow Pelosi to dodge the issue, and refused to take away the rope she was using to hang herself. If this issue significantly hurts the Democrats this fall, as I am beginning to have significant hope that it may, I think we could see the Dems drop Pelosi from the speakership. Score one point for freedom if that happens.
Your turn: Do you think this is the decisive issue of the upcoming election? What fallout do you expect if Pelosi and the Dems refuse to allow increased drilling? How shocked are you that Stephanopoulos went so hard at Pelosi, and will this become more of a trend within the mainstream media?
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