A Lights-Out Session in the House
Posted August 1st, 2008 at 4.56pm in Energy and Environment.
Today the House voted 213-194 (with 24 abstaining) in favor of adjourning for a five-week August recess. Lawmakers chose to take a paid vacation instead of voting to address the energy crisis that has stalled American motorists and is doing its best to cripple the economy.
Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid have not allowed a vote in Congress on ways to solve the energy problem. Pelosi claims she is trying to “save the world” by not allowing a vote for it.
So, with the vote to adjourn, the debate would seem to be over for now…
…however, members of Congress are making history. Republicans are on the House floor debating energy policy in the dark amongst themselves.
For those interested in the absolute latest information, you can follow Reps. John Culberson (R-Tex.) and Pete Hoekstra (R-Mich.) on Twitter as they “tweet” from the House floor on the energy debate. Heritage’s Rob Bluey is also on the House floor reporting on the situation. Follow all of their “tweets” for the latest updates (also, while you are there, follow Heritage, too).

August 1, 2008 Karen, New Jersey writes:
I am astonished that Speaker Pelosi has taken so much upon herself as to feel she can dictate contrary to the desires of the people who elect the representatives to Congress. She has to be aware of the American people’s desire for a vote and movement on a solution or set of solutions NOW. I am extremely disappointed in our representatives’ failure to stand up for us, and bowing to someone who seems to be taking on attributes of leaders in places where there is no representative rule. I have little sympathy for any desire of any member of Congress to have a vacation, considering that their lack of action is making it impossible for many of us to contemplate vacations now, or in the foreseeable future. Putting vacations aside, since they are not absolutely necessary, commuting to and from work is, if you are still lucky enough to have a job. The cost of commuting, whether individual or mass transit, is growing continuously and will continue to do so until work is started and accomplished in the area of energy supply and independence. ALL options MUST be explored, and it must be done NOW, not after vacation, or some other time in the nebulous future. Hard times are here NOW, and it is the duty of every member of Congress to listen to their constituents, and work on making life better for the families they represent. ALL energy initiatives can be approached responsibly, with an eye to conservation, cost effectiveness, and long term dependability. It is insulting to us to have people such as Speaker Pelosi and others to act as though the “common” constituent is too stupid or selfish or shortsighted to care about the environment and the “world” they are trying to save. Their first responsibility, considering where they live and work, is to US.