HOUSE Republican Leader John Boehner

Video: Speaker Pelosi Floor Speech on Economic Rescue Legislation

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CBO certifies cost of new rescue bill likely to be “substantially less than $700 billion”

The below letter from the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) was sent to congressional leaders this evening certifying that the net cost of the new version of the economic rescue bill is “likely to be substantially less than $700 billion.”

PDF version here

CBO letter to Congressional leaders - Upload a Document to Scribd

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Letter from Office of Management and Budget on Economic Rescue

The letter displayed below is from the Office of Management & Budget (OMB) certifying that the new version of the economic rescue bill will cost “considerably less than $700 billion.”  The letter was sent by OMB Director Jim Nussle to House Republican Leader John Boehner this evening.

PDF version here

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Proposed Economic Rescue Bill

Text of the bill can be downloaded in .pdf form here.

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Democrats Concede On American Energy Production

Last night House Republicans scored a major victory for American families and small businesses as the Democratic leadership bowed to pressure from months of protests by their Republican colleagues and agreed to lift the outdated ban on American offshore and oil shale production.  Increasing American energy production is one component of House Repbublicans’ comprehensive energy plan, the American Energy Act (HR 6566), that includes increased conservation and the further development of alternative and renewable fuels.

Media outlets across the nation are covering the landmark event:

Drill, baby, drill (Atlanta Journal Constitution)

But it is a great day for those who believe…that oil and gas exploration should be allowed in promising areas along the Outer Continental Shelf. It’s a great day, too, for Westmoreland and Price. Their speeches to an empty chamber were heard across America — then in Congress.

Era of offshore oil drilling ban draws to a close (LA Times)

Rep. Adam H. Putnam of Florida, chairman of the House Republican Conference, said, “After a long summer of $4 gas, with winter home heating bills on the way, this good news could not have come too soon.”

Democrats concede, will end offshore drilling ban (AP)

For the time being at least, congressional Democrats appear to be conceding in the standoff with Republicans over more offshore oil drilling as they prepare to let a quarter-century ban on oil and natural gas drilling off the Atlantic and Pacific coasts fall by the wayside.

House Democrats to Let Ban on Drilling Expire (Washington Post)

Congressional Democrats bowed to political pressure yesterday and agreed to let the ban on offshore oil drilling expire, a decision that would allow exploration just three miles off the Atlantic and Pacific coastlines

Bill Would End Coastal Oil Drilling Ban (New York Times)

Republicans have challenged Democrats for months over their opposition to opening up more of the coastline to drilling given rising gasoline prices, and the decision to drop the drilling ban represents a Republican victory.

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House Republicans continue to call for “All of the Above”

Yesterday another week passed and with it another opportunity for Speaker Pelosi and the House Democratic leadership to offer any meaningful solutions to America’s continuing energy crisis.  Although the House stands in recess, two dozen Republicans gathered on the House floor—as they did through the month of August—to demand a vote on H.R. 6566, the American Energy Act.  Using an “all of the above” approach, the American Energy Act is a comprehensive bill to lower gas prices, encourage conservation, promote alternative fuels, and increase American energy production.  House Republicans made the point loud and clear that when the House returns following Hurricane Ike, Speaker Pelosi owes the American people the vote she’s denied them on comprehensive energy reform.

Heard on the House Floor today:

Rep. Ed Royce (R-CA):

“There is both a long-term and short-term approach to energy independence. Long-term we can expect greater use of new technology such as lithium ion batteries and hybrid cars, but we also have to realize that the technology isn’t there yet. We need more domestic energy production.”

Rep. Tim Walberg (R-MI):

“While back in my district, I met a woman who works as a nurse in an Ann Arbor Hospital and has to make a 100 mile round trip to work each day. She asked her supervisor if there was an alternative to having to make that expensive trip each day. She now works two days a week for 16 hours each day, so that she can reduce the cost of her expensive commute. When I asked her what she would tell Speaker Pelosi, she said that she wanted all of the above.”

Rather than offering solutions supported by a wide majority of Americans, it now appears that House Democrats will offer a hastily-crafted “no-energy” energy bill written in secret by Democratic leaders and their special interest allies.  A “greatest hits” of previously-failed policies and new bad ideas, this latest scheme manages to further lock away American energy, discourage the use of nuclear, clean coal, and alternative fuels, while raising taxes and increasing electricity costs.

While Speaker Pelosi works to provide political cover for a divided Democratic caucus, House Republicans will continue working to provide relief to families struggling with high energy costs by promoting an “all of the above” strategy:

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Video: Republicans Work Through Demcorats’ Five-Week Break

New from the House Republican Conference:

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Boehner to Dem Leaders: Welcome Back … Now Give the American People their Energy Vote

House Republicans today welcomed their well-rested Democratic colleagues back to work after their five week break.  Gathering on the steps of the Capitol, Leader Boehner and House Republicans continued to demand, as they did through the month of August, that Speaker Pelosi schedule a vote on the American Energy Act (H.R. 6566), an “all of the above” plan to lower gas prices by increasing American energy production, encouraging conservation, and promoting development of alternative fuels.

Photos from the event can be seen below or on Leader Boehner’s Flickr photostream. More information on the event here.

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The GOP Uprising Continues

House Republicans will be meeting everyday this week on the House Floor to continue our discussion of real energy solutions and to protest Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s decision to recess the House for the month of August without consideration of the American Energy Act.  The act would free up more energy resources by implementing an “all of the above” energy strategy which emphasizes conservation, alternatives, and more production of American energy, and is supported by a majority of House members.  Democratic leaders are blocking consideration of the American Energy Act and have even shut down the annual appropriations process to avoid floor votes. For the remainder of this week, live updates of the House floor protest can be found on the House Republican Policy Committee’s blog.

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