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Congressional Irresponsibility
Guest Column | By Paul M. Weyrich | August 5, 2008
I spent the
period from the late 1980s to 2000 teaching our form of government to the people
of the Soviet Union. They were fascinated to
hear of a system in which the government worked for the people and not the
reverse. I wonder what these eager students of the American Republic think about
what happened last week as Congress went home for five weeks without permitting
any vote on exploration for oil and gas as people struggle to pay to cool their
homes or to fill their gas tanks.
What a
disgrace. The leadership in both parties repeatedly refused to permit up-or-down
votes on energy-related matters. The situation was so bad that a group of about
50 Republicans in the House of Representatives refused to go home. With lights
turned off and no microphone or camera permitted, this group shouted its
opposition to adjournment without energy action and the refusal of the Speaker
of the House to permit votes. I could no longer teach the principles of our
democratic republic. Michelle Obama says for the first time in her adult life
she is proud to be an American. Well, for the first time in my life I am ashamed
to be an American.
But perhaps I
will be able to be proud again. First, a group led by Representative Mike Pence
(R-IN) continues the protest. A gimmick, yes, but sometimes gimmicks are needed
to draw voters’ attention. A poll last week revealed that 40% of Americans
believe that Republicans are in control of Congress. Second, a bipartisan group
of Senators and Representatives is coming up with a package of compromise
legislation which will incorporate ideas from both sides. The bill will permit
offshore drilling and will tap oil from the strategic petroleum reserve. Their
plans are to present the compromise to the Leadership. If the Leadership will
allow an up-or-down vote, fine; if not the Senators plan to force a vote. Very
likely they will prevail. The House presents a greater problem. Members can
sign a discharge petition and force an up-or-down vote. But Speaker Pelosi is
very tough on discharge petitions. She threatens Members with loss of seniority
or of committee assignments. An energy bill will be a tough sell for House
Democrats afraid of losing their important positions. President George W. Bush,
in refusing to call a special session of Congress, said he doubts his doing so
would have any impact upon the Congress, but constituents may persuade them.
If many
Democrats were to return to Washington after Labor Day to inform the
Speaker that she should permit votes or she may lose her position maybe even she
would have to yield.
Paul Weyrich is Chairman and CEO of the Free Congress Foundation.
© This column is the property of the Free Congress Foundation and may not be reproduced without their permission. For comments and inquiries, contact Phyllis E. Hughes at . Visit our website at http://www.FreeCongress.org.
Guest columns do not necessarily reflect the views of Accuracy in Media or its staff.
1 Comment | Post a Comment
August 12 at 10:21 am | #1 | Link
Explain why an “Energy Vote” is needed. Didn’t Cheney already have an ‘Energy Policy’? Oh, that’s right. It’s Secret. Perhaps it was to ensure runaway prices? To further denigrate America into Third World status while asending
‘Neo Conservatives’ into the Ruling Class? Pelosi needs to go, not because of the summer break but for taking Impeachment Off The Table.
Remember, America was founded on the Representative Republic foundation.... NOT as a Democratic Republic. You will Not the word Democracy anywhere in ALL the Founding Documents.