Back on the House Republican protest front, Pelosi’s fractional surrender was, unsurprisingly, met with skepticism. In a written statement from John Boehner (R-OH), the Republican House Leader challenged Pelosi to bring the House back into session for a vote. “If Speaker Pelosi is truly sincere about having a vote on oil and gas drilling to help bring down fuel costs, she should use her power as speaker to call congress back into session immediately and schedule a vote on the American Energy Act,” Boehner said.

Rep. Mike Pence (R-IN) was one of those who began this revolt when Pelosi hastily adjourned the House for a five-week vacation back on August 1st and blocked an up-or-down vote on domestic drilling. Pence told Indiana public radio, “I think that it’s a very significant statement by Speaker Nancy Pelosi last night that, to use her words, the House ‘can have a vote’ on more domestic drilling. This represents evidence that the Democratic leadership is hearing from the American people, is hearing from many Democrats in the Congress who would like the opportunity to vote on more domestic drilling. And I welcome it. But I still believe that Congress should not wait until this fall or sometime around Christmas after the elections to give the American people more access to American oil.”