House Speaker Nancy Pelosi turned off the lights and microphones on House Republicans, but that didn't stop the debate Friday.
Congress began its five-week August recess at noon, after failing to find a solution to the surge in gasoline prices. Minority Leader John Boehner was part of a GOP group that opposed adjournment of the House, arguing that the U.S. economy was being hurt by Pelosi's refusal to schedule a vote allowing offshore drilling.
Pelosi and her fellow Democrats disagreed, and an adjournment motion passed at 11:23 a.m. The lights and microphones went out soon after, but Republicans kept talking. The power came back on as Rep. John Shadegg of Arizona was speaking.
About 50 Republicans stayed for about five hours to talk about energy. Several hundred observers cheered them on and even gave the lawmakers standing ovations.
The Republicans urged Pelosi to call a special session of Congress on energy, but Pelosi was long gone by then.
Brendan Daly, a Pelosi spokesman, told The Associated Press said Republicans "should go home to their districts and explain their record of obstructing common-sense proposals to address the pain at the pump being felt by American consumers and businesses."
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