GOP talks energy after House adjourns

WASHINGTON, Aug. 1 (UPI) -- About 20 U.S. House Republicans remained in chambers Friday instead of leaving Washington for the August recess, talking about energy issues

With microphones and cameras turned off, Rep. Lynn Westmoreland, R-Ga., began the speeches on an empty floor to protest Congress going into a recess and to raise awareness of what they said was the Democrats' unwillingness to consider energy legislation, The Hill reported. The lights and mikes were turned back on later.

"There were about 40 people lined up to speak, and Democrats adjourned to keep us from doing the special orders," Westmoreland said. "I was looking around and trying to figure out what we were going to do and just decided to go down to the well and started talking to the people in the galleries."

When other GOP-ers heard about the wordy protest, some -- such as Rep. Kevin Brady, R-Texas -- returned and received a standing ovation when entering chambers, the Washington publication said.

Nadeam Elshami, a spokesman for House Speaker Rep. Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., said the Republicans' actions were politics.