Democrats Refuse to Vote on Oil Drilling, Republicans Stage Protest
The last day that the house was in session proved to be an interesting one indeed. Democrats refused to bring to a vote an issue that will eventually help Americans with one of their number one concerns, fuel prices.
Democrats stalled a vote on offshore oil drilling and called for an end to the legislative session, leaving the problem of fuel costs hanging without a solution for the Summer recess. So much for the Democrats caring for the little people.
Republicans refused to leave the floor and continued debating even though the session was over and even after the lights were shut off. Eventually the mics and television cameras were all turned off but the Republicans kept on debating as a sign of protest. Sticking up for the little people.
“Although this Democrat majority just adjourned for the Democrat 5-week vacation, House Republicans are continuing to fight on the House floor. Although the lights, mics and C-SPAN cameras have been turned off, House Republicans are on the floor speaking to the taxpayers in the gallery who, not surprisingly, agree with Republican energy proposals.
An editorial in today’s New Hampshire Union leader says that recent polls show that more than 2/3 of Americans believe that we should be drilling for more oil, the editorial then goes on to ask why the Democrats won’t vote on an issue that so many Americans are in agreement on.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid are desperate to avoid a vote on oil drilling before the November elections. They know they will lose such a vote, and they fear Republicans will get credit for taking action to lower oil and gas prices.
So to prevent that electoral nightmare, they simply refuse to allow a floor vote on offshore drilling
They are putting politics above the needs and will of the American people. They are so concerned that the Republicans will look like winners and that it will hurt their re-election chances that they would rather delay the vote and to hell with what the American people want. So they just ran and hid rather that facing the vote and the will of the people, to the chagrin of Republicans.
“This is the people’s House,” said Rep. Thaddeus McCotter (R-Mich.). “This is not Pelosi’s politiburo.”
When Republicans finally stopped the protest five hours after the session ended they were met with cheers:
Right at the stroke of five Georgia Rep. Tom Price announced that House Republicans were ending their impromptu protest on the floor of the chamber, ending a five-plus hour rebellion with a round of “God Bless America.”
The assembled tourists, aides and members in the chamber gave Price and his compatriots a standing ovation. They left the chamber to shouts of “USA! USA! USA!”
You can read a live blogging type transcript of the day’s action here.
America's Watchtower 
The Republicans threw shenanigans like this all the time when they were in power. The only difference is that the Democrats didn’t go on a 5 hour hissy fit when it happened.
The speaker of the house has powers, and always has. Wake up.
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I am going to have to call bull**** on this statement.
“…Republicans kept on debating as a sign of protest. Sticking up for the little people.”
The republican don’t care about the little people at least no more so than the democrats. They are sticking up for one of their biggest campaign contributors which is Big Oil. Big Oil wants this so they can pump it out and ship it to China and India and the republicans have to make them happy. If you look at the campaign contributions by Big Oil of those who voted against the democrat’s windfall tax versus the contributions made to the ones who voted for it and you’ll see how much power Big Oil has among the republicans.
Washington has stopped representing us and now only represents the interests of big business. The only time the little man is heard is when he’s really angry and is ready to vote them out of the cushy ivory tower that they feel that they are entitled to.
I have to agree with JC on this. If it was the republicans pulling shenanigans like this, you would be praising them for it.
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Drilling offshore won’t make a difference my friend.
I have made a post about the gas prices and their relation to inflation on my own website.
It would be a good read for you, friend.
http://williamreed.us/2008/07/31/gas-prices-are-they-really-high/
Now, I’m not a democrat, more so of a republican with libertarian ideals.
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Politics as usual – for both sides…
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It is not over, looks like Monday is going to be a news day! … House Recess, Really? GOP to open House Monday morning …. linked to your post from Jeremiah Films GOP remains doing the work in congress while Pelosi and democrates walk out – New post if they make law
“Drilling offshore won’t make a difference my friend. ” … Sounds a lot like what I’ve said about buying a used import; “My purchase won’t make a difference, and GM makes a lot of cars overseas anyway.” If we buy American Oil, other countries will still buy oil from countries that use the money to build nuclear weapons.
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Wayne, You should have read my post before you attempt to rationalize it. Drilling offshore will most likely cost more. It’s not even about the price of the oil it’s the fact that with inflation involved it APPEARS to be higher.
Apparently, you wouldn’t know that.
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