Cazayoux Calls For Drilling Vote

Democratic Rep. Don Cazayoux, sent a letter to House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer last week, demanding a vote on more domestic oil exploration.

Cazayoux is the latest moderate Democrat to break with House Democratic leadership on the issue.

In his letter, Cazayoux says “the current debate seems to be bogged down in partisan one-upsmanship" and said that a vote on domestic drilling should be included in an package of energy legislation that will be taken up in the House.

While Republicans will seize on Cazayoux's letter as another example of pressure mounting on Pelosi from her own caucus, it should be noted that not only did Cazayoux win a seat in a reliably Republican district in a special election earlier this year, but he also hails from Louisiana, a state where oil drilling is very popular.