Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Freedom File: Dems Vote to Skip Town w/out Passing Bill to Lower Gas Prices  

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Imagine that your boss gave you a job to do, and told you to make it your top priority. . .and instead of making it your top priority, you faked it for a few weeks, then skipped town on a month-long vacation, leaving the job undone. That's essentially what the Democratic "Drill-Nothing" Congress did today as the American people continued suffering through a summer of sky-high gas prices. Instead of holding a vote on the energy reforms the American people need and want, Democrats in Congress voted today to take the month of August off.

On July 23, more than 100 House Republicans gathered on the West Front steps of the U.S. Capitol to unveil the American Energy Act, a comprehensive energy reform bill that calls for more conservation, more innovation (including alternative and renewable fuels), and more production of American-made energy (including an end to the federal ban on new oil and gas drilling in deepwater ocean zones and Alaska's North Slope). Republicans urged Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) to allow the bill, which would likely pass the House with bipartisan support, to come to a vote before Congress' August break.

Instead of scheduling a vote, however, the Speaker did the bidding of radical special-interest groups that favor high gas prices and refused to put it on the floor, explaining that she was "trying to save the planet." And instead of holding a vote on the American Energy Act, she brought to the floor a resolution to adjourn the House until after Labor Day. Outraged House Republicans stood in solidarity with energy-strapped Americans and voted unanimously against the "Drill-Nothing" Congress' adjournment resolution, which passed by just one single vote.

Watch for House GOP members to stay on offense throughout the month of August and into September, holding Democrats accountable for voting themselves a five-week break without allowing a vote on the energy reforms the American people want.

---> SEE BOEHNER ON FOX NEWS DEMANDING A VOTE

Speaking of radical special-interest groups that favor high gas prices, you've gotta hand it to the Sierra Club: they know what they want, and they're upfront about it. In an op-ed authored by Sierra Club President Carl Pope that is making waves on the blogosphere this week, Pope lashes out against the "folly" of "cheap fuel," chastising Americans who see inexpensive fuel as important to their families' ability to make ends meet. Mr. Pope's lecture helps to explain why the Sierra Club recently announced it will spend several hundred thousand dollars to run political ads in support of five vulnerable House Democratic freshmen. The radical anti-energy group's political ads are being run in support of Reps. Carol Shea-Porter (D-NH), Jerry McNerney (D-CA), Heath Shuler (D-NC), Gabrielle Giffords (D-AZ) and Chris Carney (D-PA). None of these vulnerable freshman Democrats have signed the energy pledge that Rep. Lynn Westmoreland (R-GA) has challenged all Members of Congress to sign pledging that they will vote to increase U.S. oil production to lower gas prices. Shuler, in fact, has actually refused to sign, endearing himself to Sierra Club officials as they wage their elitist crusade against "cheap fuel."

Expect Republicans to hold Democrats accountable for their ties to the Sierra Club and other radical special-interest political organizations that are spending big money in the 2008 election to ensure gas prices continue to rise.

---> SEE WHO HAS SIGNED THE PLEDGE

Americans are fed up with congressional pork-barrel spending – particularly the practice known as "airdropping," in which lawmakers' pet spending projects are dropped into major bills at the last possible minute to minimize public scrutiny and debate. Recognizing this, House Republicans unilaterally adopted a series of earmark reforms after their annual retreat last January, challenging the Democratic majority to follow suit. House Republicans vowed they would support no more taxpayer-funded "monuments to me" (i.e. earmarks for projects named after the Members of Congress who sponsor them), and no more "airdropped" earmarks parachuted into spending bills in the dead of night.

While House Republicans adopted their "no more airdrops" and "no more monuments-to-me" standards nearly nine months ago, House Democrats have brazenly refused adopt similar policies, reserving the right to drop thousands of unscrutinized taxpayer-funded projects into Congress' year-end spending bills to benefit their most vulnerable members.

Watch for House Republicans to draw battle lines with the Democratic majority over the issue of "airdropped" earmarks in September as Congress prepares for action on spending bills that must be approved to keep the government functioning this fall.

HOUSECLEANING: REPUBLICANS MOVE TO OUST PELOSI'S PARTISAN CAO

Most Americans have never heard of, nor had reason to care about, the position of Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) of the House of Representatives. But Dan Beard, the current House CAO who was handpicked by Speaker Nancy Pelosi, has not only given Americans a reason to pay attention; he's given them multiple reasons to want him fired. Leader Boehner called for precisely that today in a letter to Speaker Pelosi, citing Mr. Beard's "complete disregard for the interests of American taxpayers and the recklessly partisan manner in which he has carried out his duties."

---> READ BOEHNER LETTER TO PELOSI

More recently, claiming it would save money, Mr. Beard spent more than $700,000 in taxpayer funds to study the possibility of installing a new lighting system in the Capitol Dome. The expenditure took place against the recommendation of both the nonpartisan Architect of the Capitol and the Senate Majority Leader himself, Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV). Experts estimate it will take more than 50 years for the project to pay for itself through the "savings" Mr. Beard touted when pushing for the study.

It was also recently revealed that Mr. Beard unilaterally made major changes to a multi-million dollar food service contract without the required authorization of the House Administration Committee, at a potential cost to taxpayers of more than $5 million.

And last week, Mr. Beard reportedly used his office to launch an attack against Rep. Vern Ehlers (R-MI), the ranking Republican member of the House Administration Committee, which is responsible for oversight of the CAO.

Republicans say Mr. Beard should be fired and a new CAO should be identified through a bipartisan search process – the procedure that was used to hire Beard's predecessor when Republicans controlled Congress, but rejected by Pelosi when Dems took charge. Taxpayers deserve nothing less.

PROFILES OF THE NEXT CONGRESS: DAVID CAPPIELLO, CT-05

David Cappiello is giving Democrat incumbent Rep. Chris Murphy a run for his money in Connecticut's Fifth Congressional District. With fuel costs on the minds of Connecticut voters, Cappiello is offering real solutions to help lower gas prices while Murphy toes the party line in opposition to new energy production.

Cappiello's plan lifts the ban on offshore oil and gas drilling, encourages the use of nuclear power, streamlines fuel production and limits "boutique fuels," invests in cleaner technologies for the future, and more.

"We shouldn't be so reliant on foreign sources of oil," says Cappiello, whose "All of the Above" energy strategy is winning broad support. "It's a matter of personal, economic and national security."

In contrast, there have been 12 key votes so far in the 110th Congress where the Democratic Majority had the opportunity to step up and do the right thing on energy reform. Chris Murphy voted against lowering energy costs all 12 times.

Cappiello is a lifelong resident of Danbury, CT and is currently serving his fifth term in the State Senate. There he's been a leader in holding the line on excessive state spending while investing in health care and education priorities without raising taxes.

As of June 30, Cappiello raised $1.114 million and nearly matched Murphy's fundraising total for April 1 – June 30.

David Cappiello will bring a strong record of reform to Congress, steeped in the principles of freedom, security, and limited government. For more information on David and his efforts, view his profile on FreedomProject.org by clicking here.