Tuesday, August 19, 2008

Congressman Sam Graves heads back to Washington today as part of Republican lawmakers’ efforts to force a House vote on more energy exploration.

Mr. Graves, speaking in St. Joseph on Monday, criticized the Democratic majority’s position as self-limiting when it comes to drilling for oil and natural gas.

“We’ve got to increase supply to bring the (pump) price down,” the GOP legislator said. “I don’t know why they want to limit this.”

Mr. Graves spoke to the media outside the Fill-Up Guys convenience store on South U.S. Highway 169. His appearance was aimed at building pressure on Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to call that chamber back into session for a vote on energy legislation.

While Congress remains out of session during August, a revolving group of Republican representatives is occupying the House floor to call attention to their drilling demands.

Today, Mr. Graves’ turn comes up.

In addition to pushing legislative points, the lawmakers recognize the value of energy action, and the curse of inaction, as the fall campaign approaches. Neither Republicans nor Democrats want to absorb voter blame for pump prices $1.24 a gallon higher than the time of the last congressional election.

Republicans, he said, want a vote that specifically lifts the moratorium on drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and on the outer continental shelf. “They’re for drilling in places where it’s already being drilled,” Mr. Graves said of the Democrats. “We want drilling where it’s easy.”

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