Walberg Weekly Wrap-Up

Op-Ed

WALBERG WEEKLY WRAP-UP

Speaker Pelosi Turns The Lights Off On Energy Debate

With gas prices hovering around $4, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi moved into action this week. But rather than address energy issues, leadership in the House put forward a motion to adjourn the House until September without debating on or voting on America's current energy crisis. I voted against this adjournment resolution, but unfortunately the vote passed 213-212.

So Friday morning, when the House adjourned, several members of Congress stayed on the floor, hoping to give speeches to the American people about the fact that leadership in this Congress packed its bags and headed off for a five week vacation. Before we could begin speaking, Speaker Pelosi had the lights turned off in the House chamber and forced CSPAN to turn off its cameras.

I and many of my colleagues stayed down on the House floor, giving speeches in the dark calling for a vote on increasing energy production. It is unconscionable that Speaker Pelosi would choose vacation over having a debate on energy policy, especially when there are signs that members of Congress, on both sides of the aisle, are coming together to work on real energy solutions.

On Wednesday, a bi-partisan group of legislators unveiled a new energy plan that would lift most restrictions on offshore drilling and encourage the development of alternative energy sources. This is a strong attempt to break through partisanship and work on a comprehensive energy plan.

Yet, Speaker Pelosi and other leaders in Congress are unwilling to stick around. I believe President Bush should call a special session of Congress and force Speaker Pelosi to address gas prices. According to Article II, Section 3 of the United States Constitution, the President has the power "on extraordinary occasions" to convene the Congress.

High gas prices demand action, and right now the American people are being let down by Congressional leadership. We need to put all energy options on the table. More drilling, more alternatives, more conservation…this Congress needs to get serious and work on a comprehensive plan that includes all of the above and ends our dependence on Middle East oil.

Over the next few weeks, I will be carrying five gallon gasoline cans around south-central Michigan to collect gas receipts from my constituents to send to Speaker Pelosi. You can also submit a personal note to the Speaker for me to deliver. You can mail your gas receipts to my Jackson Office at 800 West Ganson Street; Jackson, MI 49202, and I will make sure they are delivered to the Speaker to demonstrate the cost of the inaction of Congress.

President Wrong to Bailout Mortgage Lenders

Earlier this week, President Bush signed into law a bill I opposed that puts taxpayers on the line for $300 billion in speculative securities. Along with rewarding risky investments, the bill adds a new tax on mortgages.

Michigan taxpayers cannot afford to pay for the irresponsibility and blatant recklessness of mortgage servicers and speculators. President Bush and Speaker Pelosi are wrong to force hard-working families to pay for the actions of irresponsible borrowers or pay new taxes on mortgages.

New laws that force hard-working Americans to accept the risk for the bad choices of speculators will actually prolong our current housing crisis. Families who responsibly pay their bills each month cannot afford the new taxes this bill will impose.

In America, we have a great tradition that hard work, responsible investment and diligent savings leads to home ownership. Unfortunately, this bill puts aside that tradition and punishes taxpayers.

Head Start Program

While I support the Head Start program because it increases school readiness by improving cognitive abilities, decreases the readiness gap between Head Start children and their peers and ensures children have the skills necessary to take advantage of future educational opportunities, I recently had to vote against final passage of a Head Start bill. The legislation did not contain an extremely important provision that protects faith-based organizations (FBO).

The Head Start bill that passed would not allow a FBO to receive a federal Head Start grant without surrendering its constitutionally-protected right to take faith into account in its hiring practices. Faith-based organizations with Head Start programs should not be forced to hire individuals who do not share their beliefs. I believe that this issue is important in ensuring Head Start continues to have success.

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