'Sit-in' in Congress staged
Ohio GOP reps. want to force energy bill vote
By Malia Rulon, Cincinnati Enquirer
WASHINGTON - Ohio Reps. Pat Tiberi, Bob Latta and Steve Chabot joined a small group of fellow Republicans on the House floor this week to protest Congress' lack of action on energy legislation.
"Democrats say, 'All Republicans want is drilling.' That's not true," said Tiberi, of Genoa Township, who flew in to Washington on Wednesday morning and planned to return home later the same day. "We want a comprehensive energy production bill."
Latta, of Bowling Green, participated in the protest Tuesday, arguing that the country can't afford to wait another day to pass an energy bill.
"The time to act is now, and we will continue our protest until comprehensive energy legislation is passed," Latta said.
Republicans are upset that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., adjourned the chamber without allowing a vote on their energy bill, which would lift a federal ban on oil exploration in offshore areas and in Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, a move they claim could reduce soaring gas prices. They want Pelosi to call the House back in special session to vote on the bill.
They have staged a protest - a sit-in, so to speak, with speeches, charts and pleas to tourists for action - at the Capitol every working day since the House adjourned Aug. 1 for its month-long recess.
"We've had between a dozen and two-dozen members there every day," House Republican Leader John Boehner said during a radio interview Wednesday morning.
The West Chester Republican was there himself on Friday.
"The whole floor was packed, the gallery was packed. Just ordinary Americans who go to take part in what really is an historic occasion," he said. "This has never happened before."
The floor is usually devoid of spectators, who aren't allowed in when the House is in session. But for the last week, it has been full of tourists ushered in by GOP lawmakers seeking an audience for their speeches.
Chabot, who flew to Washington on Tuesday to spend two days participating in the protest, brought his own prop: a stack of 55 gas station receipts. He flipped through the stack and held it aloft as he urged the 100 or so people seated throughout the cavernous House chamber to call their lawmakers and ask for a vote on the energy bill.
"These are from people back home in Cincinnati that agree that gas prices are too high and they want us to do something about it," he said.
Democrats argue that oil companies already own leases on millions of acres that they have not touched and say that opening up additional drilling spots wouldn't make much of a difference in gas prices.
Still, Pelosi said on CNN on Monday night that she would consider a vote if it were part of a larger package, a statement that the GOP lawmakers pointed to as evidence that their protest is working.
"Her members are hearing from people, 'What's going on with you guys? Why did you leave town without a vote?' " Tiberi said. "Us being here highlights that."
Rep. Jean Schmidt of Miami Township planned to take part in the protest today, spokesman Bruce Pfaff said.
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