GOP Calls on Dems to Return from ‘Recess’

GOP Calls on Dems to Return from ‘Recess’ for Vote on Offshore Drilling
Tuesday, August 05, 2008
By Penny Starr, Senior Staff Writer




Rep. Mike Pence (R-Ind.)Washington (CNSNews.com) - Congress recessed for the summer on Friday, but that didn’t keep Republicans from returning to the House floor on Monday to demand that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) reconvene lawmakers to pass energy legislation, including lifting the ban on offshore drilling.

“It was simply wrong for Congress to take a five-week paid vacation without ever taking a vote on giving the American people more access to American oil,” Rep. Mike Pence (R-Ind.) said of the unprecedented gathering.


Rep. Tom Price (R-Ga.)Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) and Minority Whip Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) called for the action on the floor, which saw representatives shouting comments from the floor because microphones had been turned off by the Democrats.

People touring the Capitol took part in the activity Monday, some sitting in seats on the House floor and cheering for speakers who denounced their Democratic counterparts for leaving the Capitol in the midst of a national energy crisis.

Lawmakers told CNSNews.com that if Pelosi does not bring Congress back for a special session, they would ask President Bush to do so.