Current mood:	impressed
Entry tags:	economy, fuel/energy, politics

As not seen in major news media headlines
http://www.newsmax.com/timmerman/pelosi_republicans_energy/2008/08/05/119384.html

Rep. Jeb Hensarling of Texas, one of nearly 100 Republican members of Congress who have come back to Washington to demand a vote on a comprehensive energy bill, held up a sign Tuesday with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s office number on it and pointed toward the closed doors of the House chamber.

“We’re having people call this number and say, ‘Speaker Pelosi, Open those doors. Call us back into session and allow us to vote on a comprehensive energy plan.’”

...

Monday, the Capitol police attempted to bar people who were visiting the Capitol building from entering the normally closed corridor leading to the Republican cloakroom, a tiny railroad-car type of an anteroom with a tiny kitchenette that leads onto the rear of the House floor.

So members of Congress went roaming the halls of the neighboring congressional office buildings, and personally escorted groups of constituents onto the floor so they could hear the Republican protest firsthand.

“Welcome to the people’s house,” Hensarling said when his turn came to speak in the well of the House on Tuesday.

Just over 100 people were sitting in the House chamber in the simple leather arm chairs normally occupied by the members of Congress. They erupted into applause again and again.

...

Rep. Louis Gohmert, also of Texas, told reporters later that the rolling House speeches and the effort to snag tourists to listen was no political stunt. “How stupid to play a political stunt in a chamber where we can’t bring TV cameras and microphones,” he said.

“We were deprived of the chance to demand energy for our constituents. And that’s why we’re on the floor. It’s no political stunt.”