LIGHTS OUT! DEMOCRATS LEAVE REPUBLICANS IN THE DARK

Congressman Burton issued this press release yesterday in response to Nancy Pelosi shutting off the lights in Congress.

LIGHTS OUT! DEMOCRATS LEAVE REPUBLICANS IN THE DARK

 

Democrats Turn off Mics, Lights as Republicans Stay in the Chamber to Speak About High Gas Prices

(Washington, D.C.) – A few dozen Republican representatives rallied in the House chamber even though the power was cut and the lights were turned off. When Democrats banged the gavel for adjournment at 11:23am, angry Republicans gathered in protest of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi blocking any votes on drilling or other energy legislation.

The drama began when the Democrats, as expected, overwhelmingly voted to adjourn business in the House of Representatives today, and head into a five week vacation. Republicans stayed on the House floor to give speeches against taking a vacation while nothing had been done about high gas prices. Suddenly, the lights went out, C-SPAN cameras were cut, and all the microphones were turned off. The Republican lawmakers resorted to yelling their speeches in the dark as random tourists in the House Gallery and reporters stayed to watch. Politico reporter John Breshnehan, who was on the scene, described how Republican Whip Roy Blunt shielded reporters from being escorted out by police officers.

(Read more after the jump)

On being the midst of the melee, Burton said, “What a coincidence. Democrats won’t allow votes on energy or domestic drilling, which cuts off power to the American people, and they just cut our power in the House.”

Burton continued, “This is unbelievable. We introduced a bipartisan bill yesterday, HR 6709, which has 47 Democrat and Republican cosponsors. It calls for drilling, conservation, preservation, and investment. It’s practical for America. Not only has [Speaker Pelosi] blocked Republican initiatives, but now she’s silenced her own Democrats.”

At 12:45pm, the Republican Whip’s office sent a mass email asking for a megaphone to be donated to the House floor. Calls to the Republican cloakroom at 2:00pm confirmed that some Congressmen still remained on the darkened House floor, condemning Democrats for mandating a vacation from legislative business.

For more information on Representative Burton, please visit his website at www.house.gov/burton.