Democrats would not say when these bills would be ready for floor consideration.

House Republican Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) took to the floor to again criticize Democrats for dodging votes on energy bills, charging that Democrats are avoiding votes on the opening up of the Artic National Wildlife Refuge and the OCS.

Hoyer soon followed to retort, saying he and Democratic leaders have for weeks been urging for drilling on approved acres, only to have those efforts blocked by Republicans.

He blamed Bush, Vice President Dick Cheney – the “two oil men in the White House” – and Republicans for setting an energy policy that has driven up gas prices and steered record profits to the energy companies.

“As every serious person who has studied this issue knows, the proposals that Democrats are producing are shams and hoaxes designed to provide political cover and not to produce more American energy and lower gas prices,” Boehner spokesman Michael Steel said.

“It’s a decoy to punt your attention away from the fact that their policies have produced $4-a-gallon gasoline.”

From the woman with the common sense plan. The gall.

From the woman with the common sense plan. The gall.

She's taken a loosing position on this one, unless she's
holding out until after November, hoping Obama will get
the credit for the exploration expansion.