Shortly before noon on Friday August 1, 2008 the US House of Representatives adjourned for a five week summer recess over the objections of Republicans who desperately tried to address the nation’s energy problems. The adjournment motion passed by a single vote to the embarrassment of Mark Udall who had pledged to vote against it but was absent due to campaigning in Colorado for a Senate seat.
While most members scurried to the airport, many Republicans stayed in the chamber to address the nation about the energy crisis and the Democrats unwillingness to provide relief. Nancy Pelosi and her Democrats didn’t much like that – so they literally turned off the lights and killed the microphones in the House Chamber.
Undaunted the GOP members took charge. They found the switches and turned on the lights. They opened the doors and let the public in, and a modern day version of the Boston Tea Party ensued. Reporters soon started to filter back in and estimated 400 people soon packed the House. According to one account, within a couple hours the scene resembled “newsreels of the packed House floor on the day war was declared in December of 1941.” Boy Scouts, members of the German army, stray tourists and even members in shorts and t-shirts were spotted on the floor throughout the afternoon according to Politico.com. Rep. Kevin Brady (R-TX) had already boarded his flight home when he got word of what was going on in the House. He jumped off the plane and returned to the fight.
Democrats winced and decried the breakdown in decorum, but as Rep. Mike Pence (R-IN) said, “You are not witnessing a revolt. You are witnessing democracy in action.”
The Democrats even mobilized the Capitol Police to kick reporters out of the press gallery to avoid coverage of the Republicans. “You’re not covering this, are you?” a senior Democrat staffer complained. Rep. Thaddeus McCotter (MI) summed up the Democrats tactics; “”This is the people’s House. This is not Pelosi’s politiburo.”
The entire nation is talking energy and what to do about it – but Pelosi won’t even allow a debate, much less a vote, in the House. Many Republican members, including Colorado’s Marilyn Musgrave, returned to the House the following week to continue the protest against Pelosi’s hard line tactics. Shame on the Speaker, but a big Line of Sight Tip-of-the-Hat to the House Republicans for taking charge and standing up for the folks back home.