Blunt (R-Mo.) returns to Washington to join GOP protest
Wednesday, August 6, 2008 at 4:28PM
Staff in Barack Obama, Nancy Pelosi, News/Commentary, Oil, Rob Bishop, Roy Blunt, Scott Garrett, Virginia Foxx, drilling, energy crisis, energy protest
The protesting House Republicans held another press conference calling for an immediate vote on their American Energy Act, despite Congress being out for a five-week vacation. House Minority Whip Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) returned from Missouri to participate in the protest. Blunt said it takes only five minutes for a representative in their home state to realize that the most important and urgent issue is the economy.

The Congressmen at the news conference posed with tire pressure gauges to mock Senator Barack Obama's (D-Ill.) new push for Americans to properly inflate their tires for better gas mileage. In contrast to that plan, Congressman Rob Bishop (R-Utah) said the Republicans' American Energy Act is a comprehensive bill that would not just drill for oil, but also reward people for conservation, fund renewable energy, and maintain traditional energy.

Congressman Scott Garrett (R-N.J.) said his office created a new e-mail address to handle the massive influx of complaints from citizens all around the country, PainAtthePump@mail.house.gov. Congresswoman Virginia Foxx (R-N.C.) said that Speaker Nancy Pelosi's (D-Calif.) attempt to "shut us up" the House Republicans has only energized them to continue their protest. Blunt said that although he is not sure there will be a vote soon, there will be one in November. He anticipates the gas crisis turning into a complete energy crisis in the next 90 days once the winter heating bills arrive at American houses. Garrett said that since Pelosi is unwilling to step up and lead on the energy issue, the Republicans are.

Article originally appeared on Talk Radio News Service: News, Politics, Media (http://www.talkradionews.com/).
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