House GOP Kick Off Week Three Of Energy Protest

By Daniel W. Reilly

(The Politico)  House Republicans kicked off the third week of their energy protest on Monday, sticking to the familiar script of attacking House Speaker Nancy Pelosi for not calling Congress back in session to have votes on domestic oil drilling.

However, in a new wrinkle, Republican Rep. Mike Pence urged the American public to contact Democratic representatives in their states and demand the Democratic member call for a vote on expanding domestic oil drilling.

Nine GOP members were spotted at a mid-morning press conference. Republican Rep. Tom Davis of Virginia was later spotted on the House floor.

Just like the last two weeks, House Republicans continued to train most of their fire on Pelosi, who has been promoting a new book during the August recess.

“I have a suggestion for Speaker Pelosi’s next book,” said Rep. Tom Feeney of Florida. “It should be called ‘How I ruined the American economy’ and I think it would sell like hotcakes.”

On Friday, in an interview with Politico, House Minority Leader John Boehner said he would continue the protest until Pelosi “brings us back.”

One senior GOP leadership aide said this week’s protest would be “very similar to last week” with roughly a dozen members rotating in each day.

House Minority Whip Roy Blunt will rejoin the protest later in the week, aides in his office confirmed.