The Republicans are still there in the House and this is barely being reported on. Why? They are demanding a vote on an energy plan and the House Democrats being lead by Speaker Pelosi are gone, she shut off the lights, turned off the microphones and high tailed it out of there. She is single handily blocking a floor vote. Why? She refuses because she knows it will pass and god forbid we start working to save the American People money at the gas station. Drill here, Drill now.

John Boehner invited McCain to join them
McCain needs to get his a$$ to Washington where he belongs
It will bring the much needed media attention
http://www.johnmccain.com/Contact/

Oil fight could trigger a federal shutdown

House Republicans, who’ve been hounding Speaker Nancy Pelosi for weeks over her refusal to allow a vote on new domestic oil drilling, are plotting a high-stakes confrontation this fall that could spark a shutdown of the federal government.

Republicans see an opportunity when Congress returns Sept. 8 and will have to pass a temporary measure to keep the government funded beyond Sept. 30. Democrats are likely to include in the measure an extension of the congressional moratorium on offshore drilling, which would otherwise expire at the end of September.

GOP lawmakers warn they may try to block the measure - or pressure President Bush to veto it - if Democrats won’t relent and allow the drilling ban to lapse. If neither side gives in, it would force at least a temporary shutdown of the government.

Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, who led Republicans during the last government shutdown in 1995 that ended up bruising his party’s image, said he thinks Republicans should force the showdown. He believes that the public, frustrated with high gas prices, would side with Republicans in demanding more oil exploration.

“Are (Democrats) really prepared to close the government in order to stop drilling?” Gingrich said during an appearance at the House last week, where Republicans are still protesting Pelosi’s decision to adjourn for the August break without a vote on a GOP energy plan. “I think the American people would find that a suicidal strategy.”

Democrats are skeptical that GOP leaders really want to risk a shutdown which, if it’s anything like the weeks-long closure in 1995, could lead to the furloughs of hundreds of thousands of federal workers, close national parks and passport offices, disrupt benefit checks to veterans and delay homeowners’ efforts to get government-backed home loans.

(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com …