Republicans Want House Back in Session
McCain calls for entire Congress to come off recess.
Compiled by staff
Published: Aug 5, 2008
Congress recessed last Friday for five weeks, but on Monday, Rep. Mike Pence, R-Ind., lead a small group of Republican Representatives on the floor of the House as they resumed their demand that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., call the House back into session. The group wants to bring Congress back to Washington, D.C. for an up or down vote on an energy bill that includes more access to American oil. Republicans began the effort midday Friday after Congress had shut down for the month.
On Sunday, Minority Leader John Boehner, R-Ohio, and Minority Whip Roy Blunt, R-Mo., issued a joint statement announcing plans to continue to monopolize the idle floor. About 25 GOP members were expected to take part. Leaders were scheduled to return to Washington on a rotation during the week.
Pelosi's office issued a statement Monday, making the case that House Republicans have refused to support a number of Democratic initiatives to bring down energy costs, promote renewable fuels and energy efficiency and to promote oil production in America.
Senator John McCain, R-Ariz., the presumed Republican candidate for president, urged Congress on Monday to abandon its five-week summer recess and return to the Capitol to address the nation's energy needs. He also issued a challenge to Senator Barack Obama, the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee to meet him in Washington so Congress can move forward on a package of measures to increase the oil supply and develop new sources of energy.
McCain has been pushing for offshore drilling, a provision Obama has opposed, although he said over the weekend that he could support it if it was the difference in getting passed a larger bill that would increase the energy supply.
"If Senator McCain is willing to pass a compromise that provides immediate relief to consumers in the form a $1,000 energy rebate and makes a serious investment in renewable energy, Senator Obama would be happy to join him in calling on Congress to return," said Bill Burton, Obama campaign spokesman. "But if he continues to reject any compromise that takes away tax breaks for the same oil companies that have given millions to his campaign, as he did on Friday, we'd rather not waste the American people's tax dollars."
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