GOP stays behind as Dems turn out the lights — literally

Fri, Aug 1, 2008 (5:07 p.m.)

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WASHINGTON -- A mini-revolution erupted on the House floor today when Democrats shut off the lights and adjourned for the August recess -- and Republicans refused to go home.

Dozens of House Republicans, including Rep. Jon Porter, kept right on debating -- initially in the dark and without microphones -- to protest Democrats’ refusal to pass an energy bill before the summer break.

They overtook the chamber for hours, an uprising party leaders called a “historical event.”

Politico has been updating the antics all afternoon, complete with which lawmakers showed up in shorts and flip-flops (not Porter) and who figured out the code to get the electricity back on. Tourists in the gallery got a rare treat. Here’s the story.

Porter took to the floor for about 35 to 40 minutes, his spokesman confirmed, listing off “a meager list of accomplishments” for this Congress and expressing “his displeasure that Congress would not consider a bipartisan energy bill before it recessed.”

He also spoke “about the pain his community is feeling, Southern Nevada's severe economic slowdown,” spokesman Matt Leffingwell said.

The Republican energy bill calls for more drilling to be part of the solution to $4-a-gallon gas. But Democratic leadership is fiercely opposed to expanding drilling opportunities off the coasts or elsewhere, and have refused to allow a vote on the issue some of their rank-and-file may support.

About 50 Republicans in all held court in the chamber until Capitol Police kicked them out. Nevada Republican Rep. Dean Heller was not on the list of participants, according to the Republican leadership office.

Discussion: 11 comments so far…

By MichaelGreen

8/1/08 at 5:53 p.m.

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Ah, yes, the same people who did nothing but screw up the country for six years. Firing a shot in the dark at no target sounds a great deal like Porter's legislative modus operandi, and telling falsehoods about the opposition his political M.O.
By ksand99

8/1/08 at 6:45 p.m.

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Harry Reid had three bills to help out with oil prices and energy prices NOW!

But the republicans whined and stomped their feet because they wanted to load the bills with pork and special interest money.

So Harry Reid said they could amend the bill.

But they still stomped their feet and wanted more. They refused to vote.

So Harry Reid introduced a bill that would give pay raises to the troops! It also gave the troops armored Hummers and more health care for veterans.

But the republicans stomped their feet and wouldn't vote. They have done this for a WEEK!

The american people should ask for their money back from the republican lawmakers. They do not want to work to help us! They want to sit around and then have a party when everyone left! In shorts and tshirts? They should be ashamed!

I read that they had all their interns come in so that someone would clap for them.

The republicans aren't serious about helping us, and we will remember in November!
By thebs

8/1/08 at 6:48 p.m.

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A "historical event?" Hardly. A frat party is more like it.

We can see right through this charade. They whine and whine that Harry won't give them amendments, and then whine some more after he does.

The Democrats had three energy bills that needed cloture votes. The Republicans refused.

This is old politics, plain and simple. There were three opportunities to show the Republicans cared about high gas prices and they refused to allow a vote.

Then they have the gall to have a frat party after stalling energy legislation? On the floor of the House?

This is pathetic.
By jfnance32

8/1/08 at 8:14 p.m.

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I would to say, thank you to Mr. Obama, Mr. Reid and Ms. Pelosi.

Your stubbornness for the last 10-20 years has completely locked down trillions of dollars of oil and gas.

Thank you again for your stubbornness. I am sure that Las Vegas citizens that have lost their jobs, are losing their jobs and will lose their jobs due to high gas prices will give you many thanks in November.
By AFCOL

8/1/08 at 8:36 p.m.

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I have been a fool to believe Democrats in Congress really share my values or care about my concerns. That has become abundantly obvious by the parties total disregard for the fortune average Americans are spending at the gas pump; even as Pelosi heads for her comfortable mansion in California. Do what you want, but this voter will correct his foolish past in the voting booth in about 90 days.
By tickedoff

8/1/08 at 8:59 p.m.

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The Democrats in Congress know that high gasoline and oil prices are hurting Americans--and what are they doing about it? They introduced a 2008 bill to help solve the problem, a bill called an energy plan that has no energy production in it, but is simply, as is the normal Democrat response to everything, a bill to raise taxes on somebody or some thing. Dear Senator Reid and Ms. Pelosi, you and the rest of Congress have been asleep at the wheel! Why did you not realize that we had an energy problem six (6) years ago (or even earlier), when President Bush had the foresight to demand that Congress allow drilling in a minuscule portion of Alaska's barren, uninhabitable Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR), and when the entire Republican Party was screaming from the rooftops: Drill! Drill! Drill?

Congress, due mainly, but not solely, to the Democrats, has caused considerable harm to the economy of the United States of America over the last few years. By its actions and its policies designed to impede, over regulate, stop, hinder, over tax, interfere with, or in someway harm the economy, Congress is in the process of destroying the hopes, the dreams, and possibly the future happiness of a vast number of Americans, and for that, every Senator and Representative in Congress should be kicked out of office. I support term limits, as it would be impossible for a bunch of "greenhorns" to cause more harm to the people of these United States than has the present Congress.

Lastly, for the Congress Democrats to simply go off for a month of vacation, when many of the rest of us are so worried about the damage high gasoline prices and the lack of an integrated energy plan are causing in our lives, is the height of irresponsibility. I can only hope that this year's Congressional elections teach you a well earned lesson.
By ksand99

8/1/08 at 9:32 p.m.

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That is a funny argument. The voters are not dumb. They can see that the republicans would rather see our troops hurt by IEDs than help us with gas prices.

They should be ashamed! I guess they listened to their oil company friends and refused to help us. When prices are high, the oil companies make profits and the republicans rake in the cash.

Like Ted Stevens, who was indicted for taking bribes from the oil companies. He is a republican.

The voters will not elect more republicans. I will bet 100 dollars.

I think Nevada is going to vote for Obama. The republicans are more of the same.
By Johnathan_Abbinett

8/2/08 at 12:34 a.m.

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Astute people are seeing clearly through the lies the Republican party has foisted on us for 40 looooong years - and this political prank on the part of Porter and his pathetic partners won't work!

The Republicans have blocked meaningful legislation, time and again, - over 80 times in this Congress alone!

Then, just before the break, they try and create controversy by misbehaving like a bunch of brats - are you kidding me?

It's time to come home and answer to the people Porter! We're waiting to hear all your finely tuned excuses for voting against the needs of our military, military families and our disabled veterans! We can't wait for Porter, and Heller and Ensign to show up in a public venue and take the heat they've earned for only representing their wealthy donors and corporate cronies!

It's going to be really, really hot in Nevada this August!
By jfnance32

8/2/08 at 6:31 a.m.

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High gas prices is killing Las Vegas.

Democrats, Reid, Obama and Pelosi have locked up trillions of dollars of oil and gas for decades.

That has hurt us, is hurting us and will continue to hurt us.

Ms. Taxus (Titus) was against offshore drilling. Now she is for a little of it with special special special conditions. A little is better than nothing.
By neiman1

8/2/08 at 5:44 p.m.

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Obama: The Stealth Socialist

Barack Obama’s stealth socialism can be defined by this term, which Obama uses frequently, “economic justice” Simply put it is redistribution of wealth and a euphemism for socialism. Obama discusses these words in term like “restoring fairness to the economy”, according to Investor’s Business Daily which is a code word for “soaking” the “rich”-which he seems to forget includes mom-and-pop businesses filing individual tax returns., businesses that help fuel our economy.

That’s his voting record. All I said was his voting record-and that is more to the left than the announced socialist in the United States Senate, Bernie Sanders of Vermont.

Could he really be farther left than Senator Sanders (D-VT)? Yes his voting record supports his far left liberal leanings, right down to partial birth abortions! The seed of his far left leanings were developed in those summer days post high school, pre-college and a future on the horizon, while he spent days on a Waikiki Beach, with none other than late self professed communist, Frank Marshall Davis. The influence was great as Obama followed in Davis’ footsteps by becoming a Chicago-based community organizer.

Now Obama talks about a presidency that will last 8 - 10 years. He says he will accomplish many things in his first term. Among them is the following list from Investor’s Business Daily Editorials:

• “Universal,” “guaranteed” health care.

• “Free” college tuition.

• “Universal national service” (a la Havana).

• “Universal 401(k)s” (in which the government would match contributions made by “low- and moderate-income families”).

• “Free” job training (even for criminals).

• “Wage insurance” (to supplement dislocated union workers’ old income levels).

• “Free” child care and “universal” preschool.

• More subsidized public housing.

• A fatter earned income tax credit for “working poor.”

• And even a Global Poverty Act that amounts to a Marshall Plan for the Third World, first and foremost Africa.

His new New Deal also guarantees a “living wage,” with a $10 minimum wage indexed to inflation; and “fair trade” and “fair labor practices,” with breaks for “patriot employers” who cow-tow to unions, and sticks for “nonpatriot” companies that don’t.

Obama, who appears to not understand that the USA is using a non-existent credit card to fund the war among other things, will with his ever growing socialistic plans further push the economy in the toilet and stall the economy. It is time for Obama to take a course on economy, Economy 101.
By ksand99

8/2/08 at 7:04 p.m.

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Oh no! Job training and health care! How awful!

There is no way we should have job training, health care and child care! Those are awful ideas!

Instead, we should not train the criminals how to do a job. That way, when they leave jail, they will commit another crime.

It is a shame you did not copy the rest of the words neiman1. It was just as silly! Or did you think we did not know you copied it from another website?

Just yesterday there was an article in the Sun about how the right is going to try to scare people away from Barack Obama. This is another one of those sad attempts.

I guess when you have nothing but bad ideas and a candidate you don't believe in, the only thing you can do is try to scare people away from your opponent with this nonsense.