Afraid of Being Forced to Deal with the Current Energy Crisis, the Democratic Majority in Congress Abdicates Responsibility to Govern

Chris Barron
(202) 286-4533

Former U.S. Rep. Charles F. Bass – “It is shameful that Democratic leadership is so afraid of the political consequences of difficult votes relating to the current energy crisis that the House will go into recess passing only 1 of 12 annual Appropriations bills.”

(Washington, D.C.) – “The Democratic majority in the House has completely abdicated its responsibility to govern,” said Former U.S. Rep. and current Main Street President Charles F. Bass. “It is shameful that Democratic leadership is so afraid of the political consequences of difficult votes relating to the current energy crisis that the House will go into recess passing only 1 of 12 annual Appropriations bills. Instead of doing the hard work of governing, they have instead opted for a much easier route, turning the U.S. House into little more than an election year political prop.”

As Congress prepares for its August recess, only one Appropriations bill has passed the House – the Military Construction/Department of Veterans Affairs, and that bill wasn’t passed until just before Congress adjourned. Indeed, Democratic leaders concede that they have no plans to pass the 12 annual appropriations bills. “The American electorate is weary of the political games and cynical election year stunts,” continued Bass. “The American people deserve a Congress that is actually interested in performing the duties they have been elected to undertake.”

Democratic leaders have failed to consider and pass the annual appropriations bills because of fear that Republicans in the House will use the bills as vehicles to offer energy-related amendments. “House leadership has chosen to put protecting Democratic members of Congress from potentially difficult votes in front of the needs of the country,” said Bass. “Instead of focusing on protecting their own political futures, House leadership should be focused on protecting their constituents’ future.”

Ranking House Appropriations member Jerry Lewis (R-CA) was right when he stated that, "[t]his is not only an irresponsible way to run government, but will have a catastrophic effect on federal programs and the people they serve across the country."

“Centrist Republicans stand ready to work with the Democrats in the House to do the work of the American people by drafting, considering and passing all 12 of the annual appropriations bills,” concluded Bass. “We remain committed to working to find bipartisan, pragmatic solutions to the challenges that we face as a nation.”

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The Republican Main Street Partnership (RMSP) is dedicated to promoting and building a pragmatic, thoughtful, fiscally conservative, and inclusive “Governing Majority,” where political debate is encouraged to promote solutions to improve the lives of all Americans. Embracing the full spectrum of center-right ideologies and values in order to build coalitions, RMSP is the largest organization of elected leaders who are in the mold of Abraham Lincoln, Teddy Roosevelt, and Ronald Reagan. For more information on RMSP, visit our website at www.republicanmainstreet.org.