Just to piggyback off of Nan’s post, I thought I would give you a sense of what it was like on the House floor today.

If I had to describe the atmosphere in one word, then it would probably be “revolutionary.”  Being a Revolutionary War buff, I am always observing modern American politics through the lens of history to see how the way we do things today is connected to way they were done by the Founding Fathers.  During the earliest days of our Republic, there was a sense that this was a movement of the people.  Meetings that were held to discuss the problems facing the upstart British colonies were often uproarious and full of lively debate.  Sitting on the floor today listening to the speeches of the Congressmen and the cheers of the crowd observing, I could not help but feel a deep connection to the Founding Period.  This was truly the American spirit of liberty in action - the people actively participating in government and standing up to those that would try to silence them.

The common theme that ran through all of the speeches was that by calling the recess before the Republican minority could propose their solutions for the problem of the high price of energy, Speaker Pelosi was trying to shut out dissent to the detriment of the American people.  If the American people don’t get a vacation from the high cost of oil and gas, then why should Congress be allowed to take a five-week vacation without doing something to solve the problem?

Even though Speaker Pelosi may not like it, the simple fact of the matter is that no economically viable alternative to energy currently exists and it is essential that the United States increase its supply of domestic oil and gas.  By allowing drilling in the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) and ANWR, we can increase domestic supplies and bring energy prices down in the short term.  The plan being proposed by the Republicans in Congress has been called an “all of the above” plan that will allow domestic drilling in the short-term while encouraging long-term development of alternative sources of energy.

Energy is one of the most critical issues the United States is currently facing.  With nearly 75% of the American people favoring offshore drilling, Speaker Pelosi has obviously forgotten the immortal principle enshrined in the Declaration of Independence that declares that “Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.”

Call Speaker Pelosi at (202)224-3121 and tell her that she must bend to the will of the people and allow open debate on real energy solutions.