"Texas Tea Party" Reconvenes

Following Friday's impromptu unlit, unfilmed, unmic'ed extra-legislative session on the floor of the U.S. House, a number of GOP Congressmen are reconvening today at 10 am, despite technically being in recess.

Re. John Culberson continues to tweet updates and will be posting any relevant video on Qik.  Rep. Dan Burton and a handful of other folks are also updating via Twitter.

Culberson Qik'ed a video of this morning's press conference.

Among the members in attendance (at least 31):

• John Culberson (TX)
• Dan Burton (IN)
• Marsha Blackburn (MS)
• Lynn Westmoreland (GA)
• Mike Pence (IN)
• J. Gresham Barrett (SC)
• Tom Price (GA)
• Tom Cole (OK)
• Marilyn Musgrave (CO)
• Frank Wolf (VA)
• Donald Manzullo (IL)
• Wally Herger (CA)
• Phil Gingrey (GA)
• Ron Lewis (KY)
• Jim Jordan (OH)
• Mike Conaway (TX)
• John Kline (MN)
• Mike Turner (OH)
• Steve King (IA)
• Peter Roskam (IL)
• Rob Wittman (VA)
• Jeb Hensarling (TX)
• Tim Walberg (MI)
• Louie Ghomert (TX)
• Duncan Hunter (CA)
• Mark Kirk (IL)
• Todd Platts (PA)
• John Carter (TX)
• Jim McCrery (LA)
• Mac Thornberry (TX)
• Cliff Stearns (FL)

Members updating via Twitter:

• John Culberson (TX)
• Dan Burton (IN)
• Rob Wittman (VA)
• Pete Hoekstra (MI)
• John Boehner (OH)
• Eric Cantor (VA)

The Republican Cloakroom is keeping track of the members participating in the floor debate.

From Amanda Carpenter at Townhall:

I can tell you, this is going to be a full-week assault. A GOP aide showed me a week-long schedule of GOP floor speaking dates on energy while the rest of Congress is on their 5-week taxpayer paid vacation. I'll try to share that schedule with you later. If your congressman isn't on it, you should give their office call!

Update:  Pelosi wouldn't let the House cameras film the action on Friday (which is why neither C-SPAN nor any other outlet carried it), but a couple of illicit videos have leaked out (like this one).

Update:  The #dontGo feed on Twitter has become de facto Update Central, but your options for following along (despite the lack of audio or video recording equipment) continues to grow, including:

• Live blog at minority leader John Boehner's site 
• The Facebook group
• The YouTube Channel

Update:  Oil just dipped below $120 per barrel for the first time in 3 months.

Update:  During the occasional press conferences, GOP Congressmen have been repeatedly asked by the media how long they plan to stay.  Minority whip Roy Blunt has just made it pretty clear that the fun will continue at least throughout the week.

House Republicans to Continue Talking to American People on Energy

WASHINGTON – House Republicans will continue talking directly to the American people without the assistance of television cameras, microphones or lights despite the fact Democrats decided last Friday to shutter the U.S. House of Representatives for a five-week vacation while ignoring the number issue weighing down our economy and the budgets of American families – high gas prices.

Republicans will again take to the House floor beginning at the following times:

• Tuesday, August 5, at 10:00 a.m. Eastern
• Wednesday, August 6, at 11:00 a.m. Eastern
• Thursday, August 7, at 11:00 a.m. Eastern
• Friday, August 8, at 10:00 a.m. Eastern