Rep. Pence Challenges Speaker Pelosi to “Full & Open Debate”
Now that Speaker Pelosi has changed her mind on allowing a vote on drilling, Republicans are stepping up the pressure on what should be included in debating the bill. One leader that’s stepping forward is Mike Pence. Here’s the text of his letter to Speaker Pelosi:
Since Congress adjourned on August 1st, House Republicans have taken to the House floor to call upon the Speaker of the House to bring Congress back into session and allow a vote on comprehensive energy legislation that would provide the American people more access to American oil.
It seems that Speaker Nancy Pelosi finally may be getting the message. When the floor protest began over two weeks ago, Speaker Pelosi said Republicans would have to use our ‘imagination’ to get a vote on more domestic drilling. By last week she apparently had changed her position, telling a national television audience for the first time that Congress ‘can have a vote’ on more domestic drilling. On Saturday in a national radio address, Speaker Pelosi went on to say that the Democrats’ plan ‘will consider opening portions of the Outer Continental Shelf for drilling…’
Now that Speaker Pelosi has announced her willingness to allow a vote on comprehensive energy legislation that would allow more domestic drilling, the American people should hold her to this commitment and demand that Congress immediately return to Washington, D.C. and vote.
And when Congress votes, there must be a full and fair debate that allows the Republican minority the opportunity to debate and vote on the American Energy Act, an ‘all of the above’ approach to energy legislation that encompasses more drilling, more use of clean energy sources and more conservation.
The American people should not have to wait any longer for Congress to take dramatic action toward energy independence.”
It’s obvious that Republicans won’t be satisfied with voting on just any bill. They want their amendments heard and voted on. Specifically, they want the AEA voted on. Any attempt by Speaker Pelosi to thwart amendments to their legislation will be met with fierce opposition.
If the Democratic majority attempts to thwart Republicans from having meaningful input into this legislation, then the Republican minority will tell the American people that Speaker Pelosi is interrupting the process. The American people will be told about the American Energy Act’s provisions day after day. Republican leaders will ask Speaker Pelosi why she isn’t willing to allow amendments with such thoughtful provisions.
House Republicans have the stronger hand here. Denmocrats are playing defense in a big way. Democrats that don’t vote for the AEA will be vulnerable this November. The American people will wonder why they wouldn’t vote for an all of the above energy bill. If Democrats give a wishy washy answer, they’ll be hurt.
I’m predicting in this post that Democrats will do everything possible to thwart the Republican minority. If Democrats use a closed rule, their bill will be defeated.
Democrats backed themselves into a lose-lose corner. If they use a closed rule, their bill gets defeated and Republican candidates will ask their Democratic opponents why they didn’t sign the discharge petition for the AEA. If they open up the amendment process, then defeat the AEA, Republican candidates will ask their Democratic opponents why they didn’t vote for such a sensible plan. If Democrats actually vote for the AEA, their campaign warchests will dry up fast because their environmental allies will feel abandoned.
I’d hate being in the Democrats’ shoes at that point.
Technorati Tags: Mike Pence, American Energy Act, Drilling, Conservation, Alternative Energy, OCS, Amendments, Nuclear Power, Republicans, Nancy Pelosi, Closed Rule, Election 2008
Cross-posted at LetFreedomRingBlog