The NRCC Blog

With Democrats ignoring the 75 percent of Americans that support expanding domestic oil production, Republicans are actively pushing pro-production energy legislation, aiming to force Democrats into action by the end of the month.

An article in today's edition of The Hill highlights the Democrats' failure to act on energy legislation that would lower the cost of gas and move the United States toward energy independence.

While Democrats attempt to claim victory for their failed sham legislation, they are also scrambling to backtrack on their misguided and unpopular energy stances. Despite promises to reintroduce their defeated "use it or lose it" legislation, Democrat leaders have left the bill off of the House calendar this week.

With time running out before Congress adjourns for its lengthy August recess, Democrats have relegated energy legislation to the committee level as America's demand for action grows louder in the face of constantly-rising fuel prices.

"'Right now, our strategy on gas prices is "Drive small cars and wait for the wind,"' said a Democratic aide." (The Hill, 7/7/08)

Click here to read the full article from The Hill.

As we prepare to celebrate Independence Day, I want to invite you to share with us why you are proud of America.

There are thousands of reasons why we as Americans can and should be proud of our country. Ours is a nation that offers opportunity to the humble and comfort to the broken. We are generous with our wealth and take pride in our independence.

Perhaps closer to home you're proud of a teacher who has dedicated their life to reaching and mentoring young children or of a friend or relative who has selflessly volunteered their time in an effort to improve the lives of others.

From our sons and daughters, mothers and fathers serving overseas to protect our liberties, to the homegrown heroes committed to raising families and instilling a sense of honor and duty in the next generation.

Whatever it is that makes you proud of America, we want to hear about it.

Please take a moment during the July 4th celebration to think about what exactly makes you most proud about this great country of ours, and then leave your comment to:

I am proud of my country because...

We will be posting comments to our Blog throughout the holiday weekend.

It is our hope that your comments, and those posted by others, will remind us all, just how fortunate we are to live here in America. We look forward to hearing from you.

Best wishes for a Happy Independence Day!

The July 4^th holiday is a time for celebration and reflection as we observe our nation's founding with family and friends. It is important to take some time to think about what this holiday means to us and also remember that this country's great experiment in freedom and liberty was not a victory that was easily won. Our nation was founded on the most noble of ideals and earned its independence through the brave battles waged by our founding fathers both on and off the battlefield. Much blood was shed in our war for independence, but it was shed by men who knew that their actions would forever change the course of human history.

On July 3, 1776, the day after the Continental Congress adopted a resolution calling for independence and a day before the Declaration of Independence was formally approved, John Adams wrote to his wife Abigail with a keen sense of just how profound an impact our struggle for freedom would have on future generations:

The second day of July 1776 will be the most memorable epocha in the history of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated, by succeeding generations, as the great anniversary festival. It ought to be commemorated as the day of deliverance by solemn acts of devotion to God almighty. It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shews, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations from one end of this continent to the other from this time forward forever more...I am well aware of the toil and blood and treasure that it will cost us to maintain this Declaration, and support and defend these states. Yet through all the gloom I can see the rays of ravishing light and glory. I can see that the end is more than worth all the means. And that posterity will triumph in that day's transaction, even although we should rue it, which I trust in God we shall not.

Have a happy and safe 4^th of July.

Democrats are stumbling over their own feet this week as they attempt to recover from an attack ad campaign that quickly turned against them.

Facing heavy criticism from Republicans and voters across the country, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee attempted to deflect criticism for their do-nothing energy policy by running radio ads that attempt to pin the blame for high gas prices on Republican support for energy legislation that was passed by both houses of Congress in 2005.

But the DCCC failed to do its homework - the legislation in question passed with the support of 70 House Democrats, including half of Democrat leadership, as well as Democrat presidential nominee Barack Obama. It appears that the left hand doesn't know what the extreme-left hand is doing.

Once Democrats realized their gaffe, they scrambled to run for cover:

"[DCCC] spokeswoman Kyra Jennings said [North Carolina Rep. Robin] Hayes is still responsible for his 2005 decision.

'His voters deserve to know his entire record,' Jennings said. "These tax breaks are in place and continue to be in place. I think he still has to be held accountable.'

Two North Carolina Democrats - Reps. Mike McIntyre and Bob Etheridge - also voted for the tax breaks in 2005, as did Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama." (AP, 7/1/08)

The DCCC said it best: members should be responsible for their entire record. With no energy solutions to offer, Democrats have resorted to their usual blame tactics in order to take political cover from their repeated refusal to provide gas price relief despite an unmistakable demand for action by the American people.

Democrats can only run and hide for so long. How much higher must gas prices rise before Democrats take action?

Democrats continued to sit on their hands as Congress prepared to break for the July 4 recess, failing to pass a single significant piece of energy legislation as Americans continue to suffer from high gas prices. Despite their best efforts to push through the misleading "use it or lose it" bill, Democrats have failed once again at relieving pain at the pump for American motorists.

Instead, they have been up to their usual tricks, insulting the American people by introducing redundant sham legislation for political purposes in order to trick voters into believing that voting on energy legislation already passed last year is a suitable response to gas prices that reached a new record high today:

This fall's elections might have been a primary reason why Speaker Pelosi held a vote on a slightly revised version of a bill the House had already approved this Congress. Lawmakers could use that May 2007 bill if they want to conference with a Senate bill and try to make anti-price-gouging legislation law this Congress. (CongressDaily, 6/26/08)

But, while Democrats can't seem to pass any noteworthy energy legislation, they have proven once again that they are perfectly capable of throwing taxpayer money at a problem and hoping that it goes away:

So instead of a barrage of legislation aimed at knocking back the Republicans' gas price assault, Democrats will settle for a measure giving local transit agencies $850 million in each of the next two years to reduce prices and add routes, as well as a symbolic vote calling on President Bush to crack down on "excessive" commodity speculation. (Politico, 6/26/08)

With three-quarters of Americans demanding immediate action on gas prices, Democrats have left town tomorrow without taking any meaningful action on the nation's energy crisis. The Democrats' political smokescreen is thinning, while voters are only growing more impatient. America demands action, and this majority has demonstrated time and time again that the American people will always take a back seat to political games and big-government giveaways.

Republicans, however, have responded by taking the lead on energy. In the past three weeks, Republicans have offered real energy solutions to alarmingly high gas prices. Two weeks ago, Republicans pushed a bill focused on expanding domestic energy production. Last week, the focus was on building new refineries, which would be the first new refineries in the United States since 1976, and an "all of the above" alternative energy bill that would increase production of alternative American energy, encourage more conservation and efficiency, and promote the use of alternative fuels. Unfortunately, Democrats blocked all of these proposals, perpetuating America's energy crisis and leaving voters wondering how long they will be waiting for gas prices to fall.

Earlier this week, in an astonishing affront to the most basic of human liberties, Nancy Pelosi signaled that she refuses to bring Rep. Mike Pence's Broadcaster Freedom Act to the floor for a vote and supports reinstituting the so-called "Fairness Doctrine" in order to keep conservative voices off of the airwaves.

While the House voted in 2007 to place a one-year moratorium on the Fairness Doctrine, Rep. Pence's bill would permanently abolish it and guarantee the right to free speech for conservative and liberal commentators alike. Democrats, however, refuse to sign the discharge petition that would force a vote on Pence's legislation, demonstrating to the American people that they are much more interested in throwing away the constitution for political gain than protecting the most basic of American rights.

Pelosi is doing everything she can to make sure the Broadcaster Freedom Act dies in committee before it ever sees the house floor, and her rank-and-file stand with her as she attempts to redefine the very meaning of the word "fairness."

With conservative voices coming through loud and clear over the radio waves, Democrats are doing their best to throw aside the First Amendment for their own political gain.

Instead of siding with the majority of Americans who favor immediately expanding domestic oil production, House Democrats are attempting to deceive the American public by offering a do-nothing proposal that is already the law of the land. Not only is the Democrats' "use it or lose it" proposal a redundant ploy to escape from offering a sensible and useful energy plan, but it is simply bad policy.

The Department of the Interior already has the authority to invalidate any lease of federal land by energy companies, although Democrats would like voters to think otherwise. Yesterday, the scientific community offered its opinion on the Democrats' flawed bill by sending a letter to House Leadership detailing the long technical and legal process required before any drilling can even occur:

"Once a lease is awarded, geologists begin an intensive assessment. They collect new geological, geophysical, and geochemical data to better understand the geology in their lease area.... If there is no evidence of a suitable trap, the explorer will relinquish the lease and walk away."

Despite the knowledge that this long and time-consuming process must take place after land is leased but before it is drilled, Democrats are ignoring the facts in an attempt to further skirt their duties and provide real, sensible solutions to the nation's energy problems. The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office, meanwhile, has also put a dent in the Democrats' "use it or lose it" proposal because of problematic side effects, namely significant losses in federal revenue:

"CBO has determined that a bill sponsored by House Natural Resources Chairman Nick Rahall that would prohibit companies from having future oil and gas production leases unless they act in 'due diligence' toward producing on current leases, as defined by the Interior secretary, 'slows down the process' and would result in lost federal revenue, Rahall said." (CongressDaily, 6/24/08)

This Democrat-led Congress has long been at odds with a vast majority of Americans by refusing to face the reality of the nation's energy crisis, and it seems now that everyone except the Democrats has recognized the inane effects that this ill-conceived bill would have.

Click here to read the full letter from the American Association of Petroleum Geologists.

Americans are expressing an increasingly loud demand for immediate action to relieve their pain at the pump. As a recent Fox News poll points out, 76 percent of Americans support immediately increasing domestic drilling for oil as a way to combat skyrocketing gas prices. A majority also supports oil exploration in the Alaskan National Wildlife Reserve (ANWR) and an increase in domestic nuclear power. The American people are speaking loud and clear - it's time for action in Washington.

"House and Senate Republicans are leading an almost daily drive for legislation to lift the federal moratorium on offshore drilling, increase oil shale development in the Rocky Mountain West and open Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil exploration." (San Francisco Chronicle, 6/23/08)

Meanwhile, Democrats continue their failure of leadership on the matter:

"House and Senate Democratic leaders are unlikely ever to let these drilling proposals reach the floor." (San Francisco Chronicle, 6/23/08)

Key Democrats voted twice last week against debating a bill that would have lowered the cost of gasoline by increasing domestic refinery production, even though 75 percent of Americans are calling for just that (House Roll Call 423 and 435). Democrats are demonstrating how out-of-touch they are with Americans as week after week they block responsible and effective Republican solutions to America's energy crisis. Unfortunately for the Democrat-led Congress, the numbers don't lie. Americans are clamoring for lower gas prices and increased domestic energy production and Democrats have placed themselves directly at odds with the voting public. How much longer will the people have to wait for Nancy Pelosi's do-nothing Democrats to deliver results?

State Senator David Cappiello headed to the floor of the Connecticut State Senate today for a special session, leading a charge to make gas prices more affordable in the state which has the third highest gas prices in the nation. Equipped with over 26,000 petitions signed by the people of Connecticut, Cappiello is pushing for a bill that will end hidden gas tax increases. Meanwhile, his opponent, Rep. Chris Murphy, continues to stand idly by in Washington while people in his home district and across the country are feeling the hit of high gas prices.

Rep. Murphy is standing in the way of domestic energy exploration. Murphy has repeatedly voted alongside his Democrat leadership to block the House from debating amendments aimed at reducing the cost of gas. Meanwhile, David Cappiello is not taking Connecticut's $4.35 per gallon gasoline lightly - he's offering the people of Connecticut useful, real-world solutions, fighting to eliminate unfair taxes, and helping to relieve the taxpayers' pain at the pump.

Click here to hear David Cappiello's proposal to lower gas taxes in the Nutmeg State.

(Source: http://www.fuelgaugereport.com/sbsavg.asp)

$4 Gasoline: Will the Democrat-led Congress Ever Fulfill Promise of Relief?

Over the weekend, our nation's gas prices hit an astonishing all-time high of $4 per gallon, and so far, Democrats in Congress have done nothing to address America's growing energy crisis. On the campaign trail, Democrats promised voters that they had a plan to fix our country's high gas problem - and that was when gasoline cost $2.33 per gallon. Now, less than 2 years and $1.67 per gallon later, Americans are paying through the nose for gasoline, and thanks to the inaction of the Democrat-led Congress, they aren't going to be getting relief at the pump anytime soon.

Here is the effect across the nation of the Democrats' inaction on energy issues:

(Source: AAA, Daily Fuel Gauge Report)

This Democrat-led Congress has repeatedly ignored the 57 percent of Americans who support expanding domestic energy exploration to help achieve our energy independence. Last week, Democrats banded together to block responsible solutions to America's energy crisis in favor of partisan loyalty and at the expense of every American:

Ignoring the fact that the cost of gas has risen more than 71% since the Democrats took control of Congress, Democrats voted twice to block the House from debating any amendment aimed at reducing the cost of gas (House Roll Call 370 and 380).

The Houston Chronicle editorialized that "Across the nation, school districts are limiting field trips and, in some cases, canceling classes one day a week because they can't pay the doubled cost of operating school buses," yet Democrats opposed allowing public schools to use funding to pay for burdensome energy costs that have risen more than 50% since January 2007 (House Roll Call 378).

Finally, just before Congress recessed for a long weekend, Democrats voted against educating the public on the side effects of rising gas prices (House Roll Call 385).

As the state of the economy remains the number one issue on Americans' minds today, Democrats have offered no solutions, just empty rhetoric. How much longer is our nation going to have to wait until the Democrats realize that turning a blind-eye to skyrocketing gas prices is simply not the solution? How much higher will gas prices have to rise before the Democrat-led Congress listens to the voters' calls for relief?

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The price of gas continues to climb each day. Folks like you in towns across America have experienced increases of as much as 11% in the last month alone. This comes after we

were promised by Nancy Pelosi two years ago that the Democrats had a "common sense" plan to bring down the gas prices.

It's been two years since the Democrats took control of Congress, and they've ignored practical solutions to reduce energy costs and reduce America's dependence on foreign oil. Republicans are proposing 21st century solutions to our energy crisis but we need your help. We invite you to sign this petition and tell Congress just how much this energy crisis has hurt your wallet. No one can deny the increased strain put on the American middle class families.

Sign the petition today and tell Congress you want them to:

Suspend the Federal 18.4-cents-per-gallon gasoline tax for the high-demand summer months.
Suspend all earmarks for one year and use the money to fund highways, bridges and other important infrastructure around the country.
Increase American oil production, and cut our reliance on foreign imports from unstable nations.
Allow U.S. refineries to expand and create more energy.

It is critical that we tell Congress that America needs new, innovative solutions to confront this crisis. Please sign this petition, it's the only way we can send our message to Congress that enough is enough!

It's been five days since Rep. Paul Kanjorski's (PA-11) stunning remarks surfaced in which he said that the Democrats sold the American people a bill of goods when they promised to end the war in Iraq while campaigning in 2006.

On Thursday, a video clip from 2007 was made public on YouTube in which Kanjorski stated that the Democrats "stretched the facts" when it came to their proposal to withdraw from Iraq simply to retake the majority in the House (view clip):

"I'll tell you my impression. We really in this last election ﾖ when I say we, the Democrats ﾖ I think pushed it as far as we can, the envelope. Didn't say it, but we implied it ﾖ that we, if we won the congressional elections, we could stop the war. Now anybody who is a good student of government would know that wasn't true. But you know the temptation to want to win back the Congress, we sort of stretched the facts ﾖ and people ate it up."

"Coming on the heels of this Memorial Day weekend, one would think that Paul Kanjorski has an apology to offer up given his disgusting comments," said NRCC spokesman Ken Spain. "For a sitting member of Congress to essentially state that our military men and women fighting overseas are merely pawns for the Democrats' political game is both pitiful and disgraceful. For Paul Kanjorski to admit that Democrats campaigned in '06 on a fraudulent agenda to end the war, not only exposes his own calculated efforts to fool the voters of his district, but it also raises the question of whether this was a coordinated effort by the Democratic Party as a whole."

With Paul Kanjorski touring the 11^th Congressional District during this week's recess, he should be asked the tough questions and be forced to apologize on behalf of Democrats nationwide for perpetrating fraud on the American public.

With three public events on his schedule today, there should be plenty of opportunities for Paul Kanjorski to offer up an explanation for his offensive remarks:

10:30am Millennium Circle Portal on the river behind the Irem Temple Mosque in Wilkes-Barre

3:30pm Hazleton Elementary Middle School

7:00pm Exter Borough Meeting

This weekend marks Memorial Day, a day in which Americans should pause and remember all those brave men and women who have served in our armed forces and who have made the ultimate sacrifice in the name of freedom. In towns all across the country, the main streets turn into parade routes as Americans remember those whose blood was shed on unseen shores -- whether in the Argonne Forest, on Omaha Beach, at the 38th Parallel, on the Ho Chi Minh Trail, or in Baghdad.

Author James Michener quoted an unknown admiral in his book Bridges at Toko-Ri, "where do we find such men?" to which President Reagan answered, "where we've always found them in this country. On the farms, in the shops, in the stores and the offices, they are just the product of the freest society man has ever known."

May 17th marked Armed Forces Day in the U.S. which honors those who are currently serving in the military, whether apart of Operation Enduring Freedom, Iraqi Freedom, or stationed somewhere else abroad. Please join with me in not only honoring those who have given their lives for freedom but also in honoring those who continue to serve our great country. We are proud of their sacrifice and their sense of duty and patriotism.

To join us in honoring America's soldiers, we ask that you add your comments to our special Memorial Day page. You can add your comments below. Many proud Americans have already added their comments and I hope you will join them.

May God Bless us as we remember our soldiers who made the ultimate sacrifice to defend America and our freedoms.

May God bless them.

Sincerely,

Tom Cole, M.C.
Chairman

Democrat Dirty Laundry

SPIN CYCLE:
On the Campaign Trail, Democrats Promised to Severe Ties with Special Interests

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA): "We are committed to immediate change to lead this country in a new direction, to put an end to business as usual, and to make certain this nation's leaders serve the people's interests, not special interests." ("A New Direction for America," Page 21)

RINSE CYCLE:
Democrats Have Risked America's Economic and National Security to Deliver Paybacks to the Trial Lobby

"House Republicans, business lobbyists and tort reformers launched a last-ditch effort Wednesday to scrap a tiny provision involving trial lawyer taxes from a much larger bill that would extend many popular tax credits backed by K Street.

"Opponents say the measure, which would change the period during which lawyers could file their trial expenses for a business tax deduction, is a tax break for the trial bar that will cost more than $1.5 billion over 10 years."

"Larry Akey, a spokesman for the Institute for Legal Reform, said his group would fight the provision, while its affiliated organization, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, dispatched a letter that included criticism of the trial lawyer tax change.

"'We are frankly appalled that in the current economic conditions that a bunch of wealthy trial lawyers would ask taxpayers to help them fund their frivolous lawsuits,' Akey said.

"'Obviously the trial bar is counting on the notion that there are a number of good tax provision extensions in this particular piece of legislation and so are trying to slip by an entirely new tax break for themselves,' Akey said. "

"And a source at the Republican Conference quoted House Minority Whip Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) as saying that he had to give Democrats credit for knowing how to 'unabashedly reward their friends.'"

"Rep. Michael Arcuri (D-N.Y.) took to the House floor to defend the proposal."

"A GOP lobbyist working the issue said the tax change gives Republicans an opportunity to expose Democrats' hypocrisy when it comes to special interest legislation.

"'The Democrat leadership promised to drain the swamp, but instead they've chosen to reward their richest donors through legislation,' the lobbyist said."
(Roll Call, 5/22/08)

Families today face challenges that yesterday's laws simply don't address. We need to fix government, and one solution is to update our laws so they provide America's families with more freedom in their jobs; greater healthcare and retirement security; safer communities; access to quality, affordable education; and the ability for future generations to compete in the global economy.

This week, my colleagues in the Republican Conference announced the American Families Agenda, spearheaded by my colleague, Congresswoman Kay Granger of Texas. This new agenda concentrates on the bread and butter issues facing every American. And it recognizes that today, more and more families struggle with balancing work, children and caring for elderly parents. Over the coming weeks, Republicans will be promoting new ideas that give people more personal freedom and lessen the burden of government.

From young people just starting out and looking for affordable college, to working parents who want more freedom in the workplace, to seniors who would benefit from greater flexibility with their health care and prescription drug benefits, the American Families Agenda provides commonsense solutions that modernize our laws and give people greater liberty.

I look forward to sharing more about Republican solutions and a positive agenda in the weeks to come.

Although the majority of 2nd District Democrats cast their vote for presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, today Rep. Joe Donnelly (D-IN02) announced that as a Democratic party super-delegate he would be supporting Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama.

Rep. Donnelly made his announcement via a press release from his official congressional office. Although Donnelly has been emphasizing lately in the local press that he is only interested in working on district issues while he's in Washington, apparently he's very much interested in fulfilling party obligations while on taxpayer time. Also of interest is the fact that Donnelly chose to endorse Sen. Obama only aftercampaign contributions from the Hope Fund PAC run by Obama. he received $7,500 in

Donnelly cited Obama's ability to build "bipartisan majorities" and his work for affordable health care as some of the reasons behind his endorsement. It does appear that Sen. Obama will have a difficult task buildin