WASHINGTON, Aug. 7 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- House Republican Whip Roy Blunt (Mo.) spoke with Bill Hemmer this morning on Fox News Channel's America's Newsroom. During the interview, Blunt challenged Democrats to listen to the American people and address the impact skyrocketing gas prices is having on our economy.
Blunt on the building of Democratic support for a pro-production energy vote:
"I believe there's a bipartisan majority, mostly Republicans but with some Democrats, who will vote for energy bills that really have us in the right direction, not just on drilling but on nuclear, conservation and alternatives. We want to have a full steam ahead focus on energy."
Blunt on the need for Democrats to return to Congress:
"We're looking for every way we can to get a vote on the floor. We think the debate on energy and a vote on the floor is the very least the American people deserve from the Speaker."
Below is a full transcript of the interview:
BILL HEMMER: "Get off your butt and give us the vote." That is a republican from Colorado calling on House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Marilyn Muskgrave, part of a group of House Republicans staying in Washington, anywhere between 15 and 20, on the floor of the house during the annual August recess, which is right now. Republicans are trying to shame Nancy Pelosi into coming back from break and allowing a vote on legislation to authorize more offshore oil drilling. It is the hot topic in this town. We have a House Republican from Missouri here with me. What is getting done? No cameras, no microphones -- what is this group of Republicans doing?
ROY BLUNT: A couple things are happening. One is the country realizes that the Congress has not dealt with energy. Two, they realize it is because the Speaker will not let bills come to the floor. We tried to do everything we can think of from discharging bills, even Democrat bills that were good energy bills, to try to get a vote on the floor for energy. They've tried for weeks and months to not let that happen. I believe there's a bipartisan majority, mostly Republicans but with some Democrats, who will vote for energy bills that really have us in the right direction, not just on drilling but on nuclear, conservation and alternatives. We want to have a full steam focus on energy.
BILL HEMMER: So you say some Democrats will cross over and vote for the bill, and that the Speaker will look bad?
ROY BLUNT: I guess that is what she thinks. I think it would make the country happy if we were doing our job. All you need to do is be in your district for five minutes before you realize how big an issue this is to families and the impact on the economy from restaurants where people used to spend an extra $50 a month to eat out once a week, and now they are putting it in the gas pumps.
BILL HEMMER: Here's my view, and I live and work in New York City and am not here in Washington very often. I do not see any movement on this. I see nothing getting done. What is your expectation come September?
ROY BLUNT: We're looking for every way we can to get a vote on the floor. We think the debate on energy and a vote on the floor is the very least the American people deserve from the Speaker. The Speaker decides what comes to the floor. This is the first time in the 10 years I have been in Congress -- this is my 12th year -- where on Tuesday when I was home because we had a primary, and people were saying that we understand you're going back to Washington tomorrow and will be there for more time this week even though the Congress is not in session. We're glad you're going back. Usually, the people you work for want to see you at home so you can connect with them. Right now they understand that the biggest problem in their lives is gas prices and energy prices, especially as the winter heating bills will begin to affect people's lives. They want to see congress solve this problem. They want some outrage. Frankly, when we quit at 11:23 on Friday morning without bringing an energy bill, Republicans were outraged that we couldn't get the one good vote that we think we deserve on a good energy policy for the country. These are the kind of bills that we sent to the Senate over and over again the ten years we were in the majority. In the past, nuclear was unpopular, drilling was unpopular, but we think that if these bills were sent to the senate today, the senate would have to pass them and the country would see some real relief right away.
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