STAUNTON — With gas prices still hovering near the $4-per-gallon range and the price of electricity continuing to climb, Congressman Bob Goodlatte, R-6th, spoke Saturday of the need for more off-shore drilling here in the United States to help ease the pain of soaring energy costs.
Mentioning the ongoing sit-in of some GOP members of Congress on the now darkened House floor in Washington, D.C., a protest on the lack of a vote for off-shore drilling before Congress took its five-week summer break, Goodlatte joked, "It's great to be able to speak in a room where the lights are turned on."
Goodlatte touted a number of energy solutions he said could eventually wean Americans off of oil produced by countries such as Saudi Arabia, Venezuela and Nigeria, including drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska and the outer continental shelf, tapping clean-burning coal and the admittedly difficult task of mining for oil shale in the Rocky Mountains, which he said holds two to three trillion barrels of oil.
Goodlatte, who also noted the need for alternative energy sources, said there are Democrats who would support the Republican-backed American Energy Act. "This is not a partisan issue," he said.
Saturday's Republican breakfast, a monthly meeting of Staunton, Waynesboro and Augusta County Republicans, was the official kickoff for local campaigns. While touting Republican presidential hopeful John McCain — whose election is "absolutely essential," Goodlatte said — he also spoke of Republican Jim Gilmore's senate race against Democrat Mark Warner before focusing on his own reelection as he faces Democratic challenger Sam Rasoul.
"We need your help. That's the way it always is in American politics," Goodlatte said.
Saturday's breakfast was one of many campaign stops for Goodlatte that were scheduled throughout the day, including visits to Waynesboro, Grottoes, the Frontier Culture Museum in Staunton, Walkers Creek in Rockbridge County, Craigsville, Deerfield and the Augusta County Fair in Fishersville.
Goodlatte said the Republican sit-in on the Capitol is expected to continue this week as about 15 to 20 House members will rotate shifts.
