What's Happening In Washington, D.C.

There is a revolt happening in Washington, D.C. these days. The Republican members of the House of Representatives are showing some backbone, and standing up to the Speaker of the House, Mrs. Pelosi.

As Speaker, Mrs. Pelosi is the one who determines what bills come up for discussion and when. She is the one who recesses the Congress, etc...A week ago on August 1, the Republican representatives were on the floor ready to begin their 5 minute speeches discussing why America needs to start drilling in Anwar, as well as develope alternative sources of energy. Before the first one could start Mrs. Pelosi declared the House in recess and ordered the cameras turned off and the lights off too.

The Republicans were dumbfounded. So the first representative started speaking to the gallery. Normally, you don't do this, nor is the gallery able to respond to what is happening on the floor. HOWEVER, since the House was in recess...the gallery started to applaud and ask questions. Before long more Representatives came to the House floor.

We were there on Thursday and were taken in and sat in the same chairs that the Representatives sit in. We were where the President gives the State of the Union speech. AWESOME!

The main reason for the revolt is that the House minority is tired of being blocked by Mrs. Pelosi. She is unwilling to put up for debate anything that will benefit the Republican party in anyway, even if it means that the People of America have to pay more for energy etc...

All they want to be able to do is to have both sides debate and then do an up or down vote.

Mrs. Pelosi was on George Stephanopoulos's Sunday show and he asked her this question; "But why not allow votes on all that? When you came in as speaker, you promised in your commitment book, "A New Direction For America," let me show our viewers, you said that "bills should generally come to the floor under a procedure that allows open, full, fair debate, consisting of a full amendment process that grants the minority the right to offer its alternatives." If they want to offer a drilling proposal, why can't they have a vote?"

MRS. PELOSI (taken from the transcript of the show): "They'll have to use their imagination as to how they can get a vote, and they may get a vote. But I have tried, you know, we have serious policy issues in our country. The President of the United States has presented this but for this, our economy would be booming. But for this, gas would be cheaper at the pump. It's simple not true and even the President himself in his statement yesterday and before then has said there is no quick fix for this by drilling."

G.S. - "So you will not permit a vote. You may get beat, but you're not going to permit a vote on your own?"

PELOSI: "Well, again, we take this one step at a time. But why we're spending all this time on a parliamentary tactic when nothin less is at stake than the planet, the air we breathe, our children breathe?

I find that truly amazing - she has no real answer. Reminds me of Mr. Obama when asked by the little girl this week, why he wanted to be president. He hemmed and hawed, ummmmm - since it wasn't written down he didn't know what or how to say it. Amazing! But remember "We are the change we have been looking for!"

Ok - I am stepping down from my soapbox now.

It was awesome to be in D.C. - to hear these men, speak with such reverence for the "People's House" and to be serving their constituents. It has renewed my hope.

Those of us sitting in listening - were engaged in what was going on - young, old, American, tourists etc...there was cheering, several standing ovations!

One of the Representatives who has recently been to ANWAR said that this region was set aside in the '70's by the Carter Administration as a place to drill for oil. If you look at Anwar as say a football field, then the area they want to drill is like placing a postage stamp on the football field. That's it. It is in the coastal region of this area. Below I have included a diagram.

I encourage you to look into this and to contact your Representative.

I am so thankful for the opportunity to go, and to see what is happening in Washington this summer!