House GOP stages yet another sit-in

House Republicans have staged yet another protest, remaining on the floor to speak after the House adjourned for the week and criticizing what they say is a refusal by Democrats to allow a vote on the GOP energy bill.

The House adjourned shortly before 5 p.m. on Thursday to accommodate Texas members who wanted to return to their districts ahead of Hurricane Ike.

{mosads}A number of Republicans demanded that the House remain in session so, at the very least, they could continue giving one-minute speeches on energy with the benefit of C-SPAN cameras covering the proceedings.

But Democrats won the motion to adjourn and the House was gaveled to a close.

Republicans pulled the same move following the House’s adjournment for the August recess. A total of 135 Republicans took turns speaking to a sometimes-empty chamber for the entire five weeks of the August break.

During the August protest, Republicans blasted Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) for refusing to allow an up or down vote on energy bills.

Pelosi and Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) this week said that Republicans would be allowed to offer their alternative to the Democrat’s new energy and drilling bill, which is scheduled to come to the floor next week.