Following on the heels of last Friday’s impromptu sit-in, Republican members of the House of Representatives took to the floor once again today to demand that the vacationing Speaker Pelosi allow a vote on off-shore drilling.  Speaking to Capitol visitors in the gallery, congressmen from all around the country gave impassioned speeches on the importance of lifting the restrictions that handcuff our oil production now.

Representatives who had missed Friday’s event returned to the Capitol today to show their support for a vote on energy.  Illinois Congressman Peter Roskam received word yesterday about the action in the House and proceeded to load up the family minivan and make the drive to DC, arriving just before daybreak this morning.  (Source: Politico)  Today Roskam greeted Capitol visitors as they waited outside the building with an open letter addressed to Nancy Pelosi.

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Although C-SPAN cameras remain switched off by Speaker Pelosi’s order, House Republicans continue to use technology to get their message to the American people.  Representative John Culberson of Texas uploaded two videos to Qik from his phone, including a conversation with Representative Mike Pence of Indiana.

Republicans’ thoughts on energy matters and Speaker Pelosi’s (in)action were also documented at Minority Leader John Boehner’s site.  And at the photo-sharing site Flickr, pictures of the midday press conference were posted for all to see.

By 3:30 PM more than twenty Republican representatives had spoken to the chamber.  Speeches were routinely broken up by rounds of applause and chants of “Vote! Vote! Vote!” and there appears to be no end in sight.  Said Congressman Mike Pence, one of the leaders of the protest, "There are plans underway to be here into next week… We will be here as long as it takes."

It’s good to know that at least one party will work overtime to solve the problems that need solving now.

Sources: (Hot Air, The Hill.com, Politico (x2))

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