| | Urging drilling, House GOP members refuse to leave floor for recess
Update: Members says Capitol cops gathering near House floor
In a dramatic protest aimed at urging Congress to vote to drill for more oil within the US, House Republicans are refusing to leave the House floor despite a vote to adjourn the chamber early Friday afternoon.
The GOP lawmakers are furious at Democratic Speaker Nancy Pelosi's refusal to allow a vote on legislation aimed at lifting a Congressional moratorium on offshore drilling. Republicans had delivered a letter (.pdf) to Pelosi earlier in the day outlining their request for an "all of the above" energy plan that would open more areas to drilling, encourage conservation and invest in alternative energy sources.
They accused Democrats of caring more about leaving Washington for a recess that will last the entire month of August than enacting new energy legislation. Democrats and environmentalists argue that opening US coasts to oil exploration will not reduce gas prices.
Rep. Pete Hoekstra (R-MI) said Capitol Hill police officers were gathering outside the House chamber about three hours into Friday's demonstration.
"A lot of policeman assembling off of floor. What does that mean? House is full," the Republican congressman wrote on his Twitter feed.
The protest ended around 5:10 p.m. with no Republicans hauled off in handcuffs, according to the Washington Post.
It's over. Approximately 20 minutes ago, the remaining members and staff on the floor sang "God Bless America," chanted "U.S.A., U.S.A!" and then, finally, left the chamber.
Politico was the first to report on the GOP demonstration:
Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and the Democrats adjourned the House and turned off the light and killed the microphones, but Republicans are still on the floor talking gas prices.
Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) and other GOP leaders opposed the motion to adjourn the House, arguing that Pelosi's refusal to schedule a vote allowing offshore drilling is hurting the American economy. They have refused to leave the floor after the adjournment motion passed at 11:23 a.m. and are busy bashing Pelosi and her fellow Democrats for leaving town for the August recess.
At one point, the lights went off in the House and the microphones were turned off in the chamber, meaning Republicans were talking in the dark. But as Rep. John Shadegg (R-Ariz..) was speaking, the lights went back on, and the microphones have been turned on as well.
“Madame Speaker, Where art thou?’’ Rep. Ted Poe , R-Texas, shouted from the well of the House, according to CQ. “This room is vacant of most members of Congress. Where, oh where, has Congress gone?” he yelled to about a dozen other Republicans, the tourists in the gallery, some House pages, and Rep. Dennis J. Kucinich of Ohio, the lone Democrat who witnessed the unusual proceeding.
Rep. John Culberson (R-TX) is providing updates on the protest via Twitter and video-streaming service QIK.
"This is a historic first - conservatives will not go quietly home and neglect our duty to vote to bring down energy prices," he writes.
Liberal activists are responding to the GOP protest with implications that Republican members are simply shilling for contributors in the oil companies.
"Good to see you're putting in overtime for the $300,000 you received from the oil & gas industry," said one response to Culberson.
House Republican Whip Roy Blunt sent out the following message to colleagues, according to Politico:
"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 camera's have been turned off, House Republicans are on the Floor speaking to the tax payers in the gallery who, not surprisingly, agree with Republican Energy proposals.
All Republicans who are in town are encouraged to come to the House Floor."
Conservative blog Redstate says 22 Republicans are participating in the protest.
A campaign finance watchdog echoed the sentiment that Friday's pre-recess protest was simply a publicity stunt.
"As members of Congress pull a stunt today on the floor of the House regarding oil drilling, one day after Exxon Mobil's record profits, Campaign Money Watch urges all voters and reporters to go to the nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics' website, OpenSecrets.org, and review how much each member of Congress received from the oil and gas industry over their careers. These contributions from Big Oil, more than anything else, will tell you what you need to know about today's circus," said David Donnelly, Director of Campaign Money Watch.
Earlier this year, House Republicans dramatically walked off the floor in protest of a vote to hold two Bush administration figures in contempt for flouting Congressional subpoenas.
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