Mike Pence’s Indispensible Leadership
Anyone who’s read this blog knows that I’m a big fan of Rep. Mike Pence. That’s because he’s a fighter who picks the right side of the biggest fights. Energy policy is a perfect example of his leadership. This morning, Rep. Pence delivered this speech in the House Chamber:
The American people are hurting. They’re struggling under the weight of record gasoline prices and in that cause, Republicans have been fighting for a comprehensive energy bill that includes more drilling. Three-quarters of Americans agree with us.
Just last week, the drill-nothing Democrat Congress announced they would bring an energy bill to the floor that includes more drilling and now they say Republicans have to take ‘yes’ for an answer.
Well, I would suggest to my countrymen that they look at the fine print. The drill-nothing Democrat Congress has brought a bill that actually includes basically ‘drill-almost-nothing’ provisions.
They say ‘yes’ to drilling, but not in Alaska, not in the Eastern Gulf and not within 50 miles. They say ‘yes’ to drilling but states can decide, even though they get absolutely no revenues for choosing to drill. I guess states are just going to allow drilling out of the goodness of their hearts. They say ‘yes’ to drilling but litigation rules will allow environmental lawyers to tie up all leases from the very day they’re filed.
I say to my House Democrat colleagues from my heart, on behalf of our constituents who are struggling under record gasoline prices: ‘End the charade! Stop playing politics with American energy independence! Bring a full and fair debate to this floor, and we will achieve a bipartisan result.
Rep. Pence is right in calling the Democrats’ plan a charade. As I posted here, it’s such a bad bill that one of the Democrats’ vulnerable senators, Mary Landrieu, has said that any House bill that doesn’t include revenue-sharing with the states is DOA. If Speaker Pelosi insists on pushing Nick Rahall’s bill, then she’s taking a my-way-or-the-highway approach.
That won’t fly with the American people.
They want lower gas prices and affordable heating and electric bills. In fact, it isn’t that they want it. It’s what they demand. If that can be achieved with bipartisanship, that’s fine with Main Street America. If Pelosi’s Democrats take the obstructionist path, though, then Main Street America is perfectly comfortable with breaking out the brickbats and giving obstructionist Democrats their comeuppance to get things done.
BTW, it’s Democrats standing in the way because Republicans, for once, have paid attention to We The People. They know that opposing We The People on this important of an issue is suicide. Rank-and-file Democrats have figured that out, too. It’s just that Speaker Pelosi won’t let them distance themselves from this charade of an energy policy.
We need to thank Rep. Pence for his vocal, principled leadership on the American Energy Act and in contributing to the House Oil Party. That’s a big reason why Republicans are energized (pun intended) and fighting back. We’ve finally got a group of Republicans with real spines.
The House Oil Party and Sen. McCain’s picking Gov. Palin have done tons to nspire Republicans and conservatives nationwide. If Sen. McCain, Gov. Palin and Rep. Pence keep pushing the current agenda, this could revolutionize the so-called GOP Brand.
BTW, isn’t this morning a good time to contribute to the NRCC? After all, they’ve been fighting the good fight. Shouldn’t we fight with them? Better yet, shouldn’t we give them all the ammunition they need?
Technorati Tags: Gas Crisis, Natural Gas, House Oil Party, Mike Pence, House GOP, Mary Landrieu, Nancy Pelosi, Nick Rahall, Election 2008
Cross-posted at LetFreedomRingBlog