House Republicans demand vote from Pelosi at RNC

House Republicans held a press conference today calling for Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) to allow a vote on comprehensive energy reform. Speakers said the Republican strategy would solve America's energy crisis by developing renewable and alternative fuels, using clean coal and nuclear energy, and increasing the levels of American-produced oil and gas.

Rep. Thad McCotter (R-Mich.) attacked the "do-nothing, don't-care" Congress via phone, saying Pelosi has allowed Congress to stay on vacation while the energy crisis remains unsolved.
House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) outlined the Republican standpoint on energy, saying that "energy security is in effect national security." Boehner also said that revenues gained by the US government from increased oil exploration would be used to fund renewable sources of energy. He concluded his statement, asking Pelosi to "give [Congress] a chance to show the American people we can produce what they want."

Rep. Fred Upton (R-Mich.) said that by 2030, America's energy needs will have increased by 30 to 40 percent. He adds that Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) has discussed the need to increase the US' nuclear energy supplies by 50% by that time, which the Arizona Senator believes would create 750,000 new jobs. "We cannot stay at home with [this] job undone," Upton said.

Republicans defend Congress from 'liberal coastal elites'

Rep. Geoff Davis (R-Ky.) and his fellow House Republicans held a press conference today to, according to the congressman, "defend the Congress from liberal coastal elites" that he says are responsible for the suffering of American people today, resulting from high energy prices. Davis and others continue delivering speeches on the House floor calling for Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) to bring Congress into an emergency session to pass energy legislation.

Davis went on to say that the views of the Speaker do not represent the views of our nation as a whole, and she should not continue to put energy reform on the back burner. Rep. Steve Chabot (R-Ohio) said that the one thing Pelosi has been unwilling to do is pass legislation that would bring immediate relief to the American people--drilling for oil in coastal and protected regions.

Rep. John Shimkus (R-Ill.) said that in his home district, many Americans have told him they will vote Republican in this upcoming election, some of these constituents being lifelong Democrats. Shimkus went on to say these partisan switches can be contributed to several reasons, in particular because they feel the Democratic Party has not, and continues to not do enough to help the American people.

Rep. Kline longs for the Democrats

"I wish the Democrats were here", said Rep. John Kline during a speech today on the floor of the House of Representatives, in which he expressed his desire for the Democrats to return to Congress for a vote on energy legislation. He and other Republican members of the House continued their call for Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) to call an emergency session of Congress.

Rep. Bob Latta (R-OH) agreed with Kline, though also pointing out that any new endeavors to procure new energy can take a considerable amount of time. However, he remained confident that the United States could see a substantial change in oil prices in less than ten years. He compared the quest for new sources of energy to the lengthy construction time of the United States Capitol.

Last night on CNN Speaker Pelosi said she was open to a vote on energy legislation containing offshore drilling. However, some Republican speakers expressed concern that Speaker Pelosi would not follow through on her commitment.

The GOP talking storm: It's still thundering

The tourists continue to pour onto the House Floor while Republicans continue their week-long talking tangent.

Rep. Thaddeus McCotter (R-Mich.) explained his perspective on the history of the "Greatest Generation" of World War II. Other subjects he covered were Communist Russia, industrialization, and the Civil Rights Movement. He said the test of this generation is the energy challenge.

Rep. Mike Pence (R-Ind.) said "people are calling [the Republican's talkathon] historic." Last Friday, it may have been a stunt, but now it is serious, he said. He told the crowd that they are first-hand witnesses and so they should spread the word. Jokingly, he told the younger people to instant message people about it.

One man sitting in the front row raised his hand for a comment or question, but McCotter ignored him, and the man walked out shortly.

McCotter said Congress needs to develop "common sense" solutions to the oil crisis.

"In the Midwest, if you don't use common sense, you freeze to death," McCotter said.

McCotter compared House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) to someone walking into a job interview. If someone walks into a job interview and tells the prospective boss about a secret solution to a major problem, then the boss will think they have better ideas than other prospects and hire that person. A year later, the problem gets bigger, the person gives up, and takes a 5-week paid vacation, McCotter said.

Many Republicans and Democrats agree on bringing Congress back in session to address the oil crisis, but Pelosi will not do anything about it, McCotter said.

McCain has a “radical” healthcare plan

ABC News political analyst Cokie Roberts spoke today about health care on the campaign trail at a convention on clinical chemistry among healthcare professionals. Roberts said the American people are going to see a “robust” debate on health care for the presidential campaigns, and that Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) has a more “radical” healthcare plan then Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.).

Roberts said that John McCain’s plan to get away from employer based healthcare plans and put families on individual plans is “radical.” While this plan frees up tax money and may create an open market for lower insurance rates, a Democratically held Congress will not approve it and public opinion is that individually based health care will be much harder financially, she said.

However, Obama’s patchwork healthcare plan is much more plausible, Roberts said. Smaller changes will work better and get through Congress faster then a large overall change, and universal healthcare won’t happen anytime soon.

Voters want something done about healthcare, but they aren’t sure exactly what they want, Roberts said. There is a very significant number of people who make less then $30,000 a year who can barely make their medical insurance payments, if they speak up and demand change then healthcare will become an important part of the campaigns.