The Hill News

House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) asked voters to press Democrats during the August recess to swear off moving a comprehensive energy legislation during a lame-duck Congress.

Boehner, responding to a top Democrat’s claim Tuesday morning that there was no “secret plan” to try to pass an energy bill during the period after the election, asked constituents to press their Democratic representatives during the recess on the matter.

“A couple of weeks ago I challenged Pelosi and Hoyer to pledge right now that they won’t use a lame-duck session to pass controversial bills like a job-killing national energy tax,” Boehner said at his weekly press availability. 

“We should all be calling on the Democrats to pledge that they won’t do this,” the House minority leader added. “I encourage you to echo this at home, especially if you share a media market with a Democrat. Put them on record.”

While Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), a member of the Democratic leadership, said there was no plan to move energy legislation or any other major measures during the period after the election before new lawmakers are sworn in, he stopped short of pledging not to move a major initiative. 

Republicans have sought to pressure Democratic leaders in the House and Senate to state that they wouldn’t move energy reform, union organizing legislation or any number of other stalled priorities. GOP leaders are optimistic they could win back the House this fall, and have sought to build public pressure against a heavy lame-duck session ahead of the election.

Boehner’s appeal to voters also comes as Democrats are set to stake out their own aggressive messaging campaign during the August recess. Democrats will be making themselves available to questions from constituents during that campaign, which could lead to questions about a lame-duck session.