Recess Week Preview: Boehner Gets An Earful On Gas Prices

House Republican Leader John Boehner received an earful from his Ohio constituents on gas prices this week, a likely preview of what all members of Congress can expect to hear back home during the upcoming Fourth of July recess.

In a roughly 45-minute telephone town hall meeting with residents of Boehner's Southwest Ohio district, almost every single question focused on the high price of gas and what Congress can do about it.

The minority leader listened to his constituents' concerns before deftly laying the blame on House Democrats, who he says have “refused to allow Republicans to have an up-or-down vote on more American-made energy.”

As gas prices continue to surge, Boehner and other Republican leaders are making energy, specifically a GOP plan to boost domestic oil drilling, their main talking point over the recess.

“I told my guys, until you are physically ill from talking about this thing, you’re not [doing enough],” House Republican Conference Chairman Adam Putnam (R-Fla.) said of his message instructions for his members.

"Oil has hit $140 a barrel. It continues to be the dominant issue in America and Congress continues to do nothing about it.”

In the House Republicans’ weekly radio address, Rep. Jim Gerlach (R-Pa.) acknowledged that “folks are frustrated with pumping more of their own paychecks into the gas tanks and look to Congress for answers.”
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