Blunt (R-Mo.) returns to Washington to join GOP 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.

Blunt (R-Mo.) outraged at M.I.A. Pelosi (D-Calif.)

House Minority Whip Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) returned from Missouri to participate in the House Republicans' energy protest. He says the Republicans became increasingly frustrated over the past few months that the most important issue in American was not dealt with in Congress. He goes on to say that Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) has time for an online chat on her book, but no time to deal with the urgent problem of energy.(0:49)

Republicans bring down the House

Republicans continued their impassioned speeches on the floor of the House without lights or microphones today. Tourists flooded the floor, taking advantage of a rare opportunity to sit in seats generally held by congressman and to listen to the congressmen speak.

Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-Texas) commented on the outbursts of applause from crowd members, pointing out that these expressions from the public in attendance would never be possible if Congress were in session. He went on to discuss new energy options, said in response to nuclear energy, “I’m not a big fan of doing things how France does them, but we have to keep the option on the table”. He went on to say “San Francisco may have the majority speaker from there, but [their views] are not the will of the American people!” to the cheers and applause of many attending the speech.

Rep. Ron Lewis (R-Ky.) said in response to allegations that Republicans are working for the benefit of big oil companies, “If anyone is working for big oil, it’s the Speaker who is keeping the prices high by not allowing us to increase [oil] supply”. Rep. Gohmert also brought bumper stickers for audience members which said “It’s the supply, stupid”, referencing former President Clinton’s 1992 campaign slogan, “It’s the economy, stupid.”

House Minority Leader Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) will be returning to the floor August 6th.

1.3 million Americans demand congress take action on oil

"Democrats in the House and Senate have stood in the way of more American made energy" said House minority leader John Boehner (R-Ohio). "That's why almost 70% of our oil that we use everyday has to be imported." Boehner and other top Republicans spoke at a press conference today to accept a petition from American Solutions signed by 1.3 million Americans. The petition calls on congress to take action now to lower gas prices.

Boehner went on to say that the amount of oil imported by the United States continues to rise due to Democrats' continued opposition to drilling in ANWR and the outer continental shelf. He also dismissed biofuels and conservation as possible remedies, instead stating that more American made energy, including nuclear power, is a better solution.

House minority whip Roy Blunt (R-MO.) stated that he and his fellow Republicans have asked Democrats to bring legislation to the floor that would provide American solutions to rising oil prices, yet we still see no action. He also pointed out that no other nation in the world possesses deep water oil sources and chooses not to extract them but the United States. He ended by challenging the Democratic leadership from both the House and Senate to respond to the 1.3 million Americans who have signed the petition.

GOP Pen and pad

House Republican leaders Rep. Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) and Rep. Adam Putnum (R-Fla.) briefed reporters this afternoon at their weekly pen and pad briefing. Paramount to their discussion was the high cost of fuel which has dominated discussion on Capital Hill for the past few weeks.

Both Blunt and Putnam pointed to Rep. Gene Green (D-Tex.) as an example of Democrats not doing anything on high energy costs. Green today had said on the House floor “we need answers and not just slogans.” Blunt has told his members of the Republican Caucus that they should “talk about the issue of energy until they are blue in the face.”

Referring to the recent Medicare vote which passed the House, Blunt said “the Democrats did a great job where you had an active group of doctors and pharmacists.” But Blunt added that President Bush still has pull on Capital Hill. “I think on matters such as FISA and national security he still has got some pool,” said Blunt. Blunt, however, added that it is the threat of a presidential veto that has the strongest pull.

On the Supreme Courts decision today to overturn Washington D.C.’s hand gun ban the Minority Leader told reporters that there currently are no plans to do anything federally. Blunt added that he and Putnam would welcome any hearings on the issue of guns but joked “I doubt they’ll do that,” said Putnam.