Thursday, July 31, 2008
House Democrats Vote, Say Screw America, & Time For Vacation
Yesterday, Republican House members unsuccessfully attempted to force congress from adjourning for their August recess. In a vote to prevent the House of Representatives from taking vacation, 17 Democrats joined every Republican in the house only to see the measure fail by 1 vote. Nancy Pelosi was able to retain just enough votes to allow Congress to go forward with their month long vacation and further prevent any legislation aimed at addressing our energy crisis.
The 213-212 vote follows weeks of energy legislation being blocked by Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid, who have resorted to the use of parliamentary maneuvers to keep legislation off the plate. With no pressure by applied from the presumptive Democratic Nominee, Barack Obama, Democratic Leadership have committed the US to remaining reliant upon foreign energy sources. Obama, who could flex his muscle with Democratic leadership, instead chose to refer to US energy production proposals as "schemes" in a campaign speech yesterday.
The US currently imports more than 75% of it's oil and this year, for the first time in history, will have to import natural gas. Natural gas production which would also increase under an expansion of drilling is estimated by the USGS to be our nation's second largest energy resource. Yet, due to restrictions on land based and offshore extraction, our nation will now be forced to begin importing the product; further adding to the $18 billion per day that transfer into the coffers of foreign nations. Yes, Senator Obama expanded us drilling is a scheme, one designed to increase supply and reduce the $18 billion dollar per day transfer of US wealth overseas. It certainly isn't the $10 billion per month that we are spending on the War on Terror...OH WAIT... CRAP... IT'S MORE... ABOUT...OH....$17.7 BILLION PER DAY MORE!!!
House Minority Leader John Boehner stated, "Every time Americans fill up their tanks during the month of August and pay today's historic gas prices, they will have Speaker Pelosi and Senators Reid and Obama to thank."
A little over a year ago, as Iraq's Parliament was preparing to go on vacation, congressional Democrats lambasted the Iraqi government and papers were plastered with stories of congressional outrage over the vacation. John Kerry attacked "An Iraqi Parliament that spends July and August sitting around a swimming pool while their country descends into further unrest". Perhaps Senator Kerry should lambaste congressional Democratic leadership who has decided that now is a convenient time for them to escape stresses of an economy that is stumbling and energy prices that are rising. Why is it that congressional leaders such as Pelosi, Reid, Obama, and Kerry were so willing to lambaste an incompetent Iraqi Parliament, while failing to carry out their elected duties to the American people???
Democratic Congressman Abercrombie of Hawaii, one of the 17 Democrats who courageously crossed the line, stated his disappointment in his own parties leadership and that the US should have taken action 10 years ago.
There is now only one option left to keep congress from going on vacation. The President has a Constitutional Power to force congress into a special session to address energy legislation. The President can help his own dismal approval numbers and lame-duck status, by taking charge and forcing congress to go back to work.
House Democrats Vote, Say Screw America, & Time For Vacation
Yesterday, Republican House members unsuccessfully attempted to force congress from adjourning for their August recess. In a vote to prevent the House of Representatives from taking vacation, 17 Democrats joined every Republican in the house only to see the measure fail by 1 vote. Nancy Pelosi was able to retain just enough votes to allow Congress to go forward with their month long vacation and further prevent any legislation aimed at addressing our energy crisis.
The 213-212 vote follows weeks of energy legislation being blocked by Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid, who have resorted to the use of parliamentary maneuvers to keep legislation off the plate. With no pressure by applied from the presumptive Democratic Nominee, Barack Obama, Democratic Leadership have committed the US to remaining reliant upon foreign energy sources. Obama, who could flex his muscle with Democratic leadership, instead chose to refer to US energy production proposals as "schemes" in a campaign speech yesterday.
The US currently imports more than 75% of it's oil and this year, for the first time in history, will have to import natural gas. Natural gas production which would also increase under an expansion of drilling is estimated by the USGS to be our nation's second largest energy resource. Yet, due to restrictions on land based and offshore extraction, our nation will now be forced to begin importing the product; further adding to the $18 billion per day that transfer into the coffers of foreign nations. Yes, Senator Obama expanded us drilling is a scheme, one designed to increase supply and reduce the $18 billion dollar per day transfer of US wealth overseas. It certainly isn't the $10 billion per month that we are spending on the War on Terror...OH WAIT... CRAP... IT'S MORE... ABOUT...OH....$17.7 BILLION PER DAY MORE!!!
House Minority Leader John Boehner stated, "Every time Americans fill up their tanks during the month of August and pay today's historic gas prices, they will have Speaker Pelosi and Senators Reid and Obama to thank."
A little over a year ago, as Iraq's Parliament was preparing to go on vacation, congressional Democrats lambasted the Iraqi government and papers were plastered with stories of congressional outrage over the vacation. John Kerry attacked "An Iraqi Parliament that spends July and August sitting around a swimming pool while their country descends into further unrest". Perhaps Senator Kerry should lambaste congressional Democratic leadership who has decided that now is a convenient time for them to escape stresses of an economy that is stumbling and energy prices that are rising. Why is it that congressional leaders such as Pelosi, Reid, Obama, and Kerry were so willing to lambaste an incompetent Iraqi Parliament, while failing to carry out their elected duties to the American people???
Democratic Congressman Abercrombie of Hawaii, one of the 17 Democrats who courageously crossed the line, stated his disappointment in his own parties leadership and that the US should have taken action 10 years ago.
There is now only one option left to keep congress from going on vacation. The President has a Constitutional Power to force congress into a special session to address energy legislation. The President can help his own dismal approval numbers and lame-duck status, by taking charge and forcing congress to go back to work.