Congress skipped town on Friday without passing comprehensive energy legislation or lifting the moratorium on offshore drilling. Despite Republican objections, Democratic congressional leaders opted for a five-week vacation rather than passing legislation to ease pain at the pump.
But as Politico's Patrick O'Connor reported Friday night, some lawmakers refused to take adjournment for an answer.
A small band of Republicans, protesting the decision to adjourn without an oil vote, started to speak from the well - even though the lights weren't on, the microphones were turned off and most of their colleagues were scrambling to catch flights out of town.
Confused tourists watched from the gallery, as Republican congressmen used a host of new media tools to text messages and stream video about what some called "21st century Boston Tea Party." With C-SPAN turned off, Texas Rep. John Culberson kept his friends updated on the activities on Twitter.
When House officials tried to close the galleries, lawmakers invited the tourists to join them on the House floor - something prohibited whenever the House is in session.
"This is the most fun I've had on the Hill in 15 years on the Hill," a senior Republican aide said.
Over the weekend, House Republican leaders John Boehner of Ohio and Roy Blunt of Missouri encouraged Members to continue their activities this week.
Yesterday we witnessed the power of American democracy in action. Dozens of House Republicans joined hundreds of American citizens on the House floor to protest Speaker Pelosi's decision to send Congress home for the rest of the summer without a vote on the American Energy Act. In doing so, we sent a powerful message that Republicans are united with the American people. We're writing today for two reasons. One is to thank you for what you've done. The other is to ask that we keep it going.
More than a dozen GOP lawmakers will return to the Capitol today - with or without live mikes or lights.
Republicans have worked hard this summer trying to break through the communications challenges of serving in the congressional majority. Gas prices have been an engine for those efforts. This story is as they say…developing.
