Congress Faces a Pivotal Decision on September 8 (House Minority Leader John Boehner)
August 29th, 2008
Speaker Pelosi and the Democrats in charge of Congress have a pivotal decision to make when members return to Washington, D.C. on September 8. Will they allow an up-or-down vote on more American energy production that the American people want? Will they allow a vote on our “all of the above” energy reforms to lower gasoline prices?
Let’s be honest: The Democrats’ energy record is one of empty rhetoric and broken promises, and that’s why they have no credibility with the American people right now. Energy independence was a signature campaign promise of Speaker Pelosi and House Democrats in 2006 – when she said bluntly that Democrats “have a commonsense plan to lower gas prices” – yet their chronic negligence in addressing this issue continues to have devastating consequences for working families, small businesses, seniors and schools. For proof look no further than the fact that Speaker Pelosi adjourned Congress for a five-week break instead of allowing a simple up-or-down vote on the American Energy Act to reduce fuel costs.
Increased American energy production is a cornerstone of House Republicans’ American Energy Act (H.R. 6566), an “all of the above” plan to lower gas prices by encouraging more conservation and efficiency, promoting the use of more alterative and renewable fuels, and expanding drilling on remote lands and far off American shores in an environmentally-safe way. Among other things, the bill creates a renewable energy trust fund that would be financed through revenues from drilling from several energy-rich locations in Alaska and far off our shores. The American people support our plan, and they have every right to demand that Speaker Pelosi allow a vote on our energy reforms. They deserve more than yet another Democratic scheme that will do nothing to lower gasoline prices or reduce home heating costs.
Will Democratic leaders give the American people the vote they want? Here’s what I know: Today marks Day 21 of House Republicans’ unprecedented nationwide gas prices protest, and we will not relent until we secure a vote on our ‘all of the above’ energy reforms on behalf of working families and small businesses who need our help.
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