House Democrats are up to old Washington tricks. It began five weeks ago when they adjourned Congress without allowing serious debate on rising energy prices. Yesterday, they passed their “energy bill” that had billions of dollars in earmarks but no actual new American energy production in it! These political tactics only succeed in hurting the American people.

I rose yesterday on the House floor and spoke about the complete ridiculousness of this bill. Specifically, I called a Point of Order to challenge a $1.2 billion earmark that Rep. Charlie Rangel (D-NY) inserted for his district in New York City – an earmark that produces no new energy, yet still manages to raise your taxes. In another example of shady tactics, he added this tax-payer funded earmark without any notification to House Members and virtually no time to discuss it on the House floor.

House Democrats have neglected their responsibility to pass a comprehensive energy plan. They have offered no solutions to lower gas prices and have ignored the “all-of-the-above” proposals by House Republicans. Nonetheless, I will continue to fight to get Congress to work for the American people and pass meaningful legislation based on common-sense solutions. I spoke about energy and the economy last night on MSNBC with David Gregory.

Sign the petition! Call Congress Back to Washington, DC to lower gas prices.

Join us in calling on the Democrat Leadership to return to Washington, DC to pass a bill that will increase American energy supply, open up offshore drilling and eliminate our reliance on foreign oil.

Call Congress Back.

Read Cantor’s Post on Town Hall: Dems Skip Town: Empty Promises Revealed

At this very minute, Republicans are on the Floor of the House of Representatives ready and willing to work to lower the price of gas and ease the burden on the American people. However, House Democrats are no where to be found.

Earlier today, the House adjourned without even a single vote on energy, not a single vote to relieve Americans who are being strangled by the increased cost of gas. No sir, they left town for five weeks. That’s at least 5 more weeks without doing anything to relieve the pain at the pump.

The Democrats left, they turned off the cameras, turned off the lights, and turned off the microphones. But that isn’t stopping us. Republicans are not going to just leave the American people high and dry. Nope, we are demanding that Congress vote to provide some form of real energy relief- to bring down gas prices.

The Democrats refuse to allow a vote on the GOP energy plan, which would call for a end to the moratorium on offshore drilling. By lifting the ban, global markets would get that we are serious about producing American energy, right here at home.

This is the people’s house, too bad the Democrats don’t seem to be doing the people’s business.

Read more here, and here

Visit Power Line blog to read Cantor’s post on the games Democrats are playing with energy.

President Bush has lifted the Executive Order banning energy exploration off America’s coasts. This is great news for America’s working families! We must expand America’s energy supply to bring down gas prices and reduce our reliance on countries that are hostile to America and American interests. Skyrocketing gas prices have impacted everyone. I spoke to an 81 year old woman in Virginia who told me she was having a hard time living by herself, driving to the grocery store and paying for prescriptions. Congress is now in the driver’s seat. We must lift the moratorium on deep ocean energy exploration so that states can act to access the energy resources off their coasts.

In Virginia, experts estimate that Virginia taxpayer’s stand to reap $250 million/year for 40 years if we are allowed to develop our offshore energy reserves. These revenues could be used to clean up the Chesapeake Bay to ensure our environmental security. The time to ACT is NOW. I need your help in urging Speaker Pelosi to bring a bill to the floor to help America’s families cope! Sign the petition at GasPriceProtest.com

Take a look at the following articles that feature Rep. Cantor’s view on how to become more energy independent and how to lower gas prices.

Washington Post- Prospect of Drilling Roils Political Waters

Richmond Times-Dispatch- Cantor again calls for offshore oil drilling

Culpeper Star Exponent- Cantor: There’s oil in those waters

Culpeper Star Exponent- Cantor: Energy independence will take WWII-like collaboration