Protest Goes On

Over the August recess, the House GOP carried on a continuous protest calling on Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) to reconvene the House and give the Republicans an up or down vote on their “all of the above” energy bill. Well, the House came and went this week and the protest continues on the House floor.

Democrats have floated their own energy package that includes offshore drilling and have offered the GOP a vote on its initiative as part of a motion to recommit. Republican leaders gathered outside the floor on Friday to applaud the Democrats for “coming our way,” in the words of Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio), but added that the Pelosi proposal “looks like a hoax” because it doesn’t share drilling revenues with states that would be required to concur in order for the drilling to begin.

Rep. Eric Cantor (R-Va.) called her acquiescence to drilling “yes, but.” Grateful for the yes, but opposed to the but, the GOP vowed to carry on the protest. “We’re going to the floor,” declared Boehner.