Blunt: If Speaker is Serious, Bring the House Back Into Session for a Vote on Energy

First posted on 08-20-2008

House Republican Whip Roy Blunt (Mo.) issued the following statement two days ago after Speaker Pelosi indicated recently on CNN’s Larry King Live that she is now open to a vote on lifting the 27-year-old ban on deep-ocean energy exploration, one of the key elements of House Republicans’ “all of the above” American Energy Act:

“I was certainly encouraged to hear the Speaker last night suggest a willingness to allow the House to have an up-or-down vote on the merits of unlocking the potential of America’s abundant energy resources. But the proof will be in the proverbial pudding.

“House Republicans have already made our position clear – a position that includes remaining on the floor of the U.S. House to demand a genuine debate and straightforward vote on the most important issue facing Americans today. Despite what we heard last night, the speaker’s position is far from clear – but she could clear that up by bringing the House back into session and working with Republicans to pass a serious energy plan to bring down prices at the pump.”

NOTE: Speaker Pelosi said on Larry King Live: “They have this thing that says drill offshore in the protected areas. We can do that. We can have a vote on that.”