The debate on energy has reached a tipping point. For months, calls to allow a vote on domestic drilling have been stonewalled by Speaker Nancy Pelosi, but yesterday she conceded that the House “can have a vote.”

The clear temptation is to vilify the Speaker for ignoring the will of the American constituency for so long; however, the focus should now be on the future of our energy policy, not on partisan politics.

The search for sustainable energy sources should not be a zero sum game. What we have are realistic and substantive proposals available for debate that emphasize both alternative sources like wind and solar, as well as environmentally responsible approaches to increasing domestic oil and gas production. What we need is for the Speaker to call Congress back from vacation to show her party is willing to admit that the status quo and proper tire pressure are insufficient for an energy policy.

Today I joined House Republicans on the floor for the informal session we’ve been holding since Congress adjourned almost two weeks ago. While some have derided our actions as a stunt, they seem to have brought about a change in the tide. Oil and gas are still critical to American families and our economy, and the time has come for Congress to deliver solutions.

America’s energy security is a bipartisan matter. Let’s get something done.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, August 12th, 2008 at 3:21 pm and is filed under Uncategorized .