It seems like Republican House members have decided that they'll have a better chance at reelection if they don't remind voters back home of their existence. We've seen it during this August recess while they flocked to the floor to play at being Congressmembers over drilling instead of hanging out in their districts having to deal with real constituents and real issues.
Now they've announced that they want to stay in DC all fall if that's what it will take to get a drilling bill through.
House Republicans said Monday they would refuse to consider any energy bill that came straight to the floor from the Democratic leadership’s offices, rather than working its way through committee markups — a process that can take weeks or months.
Granted, there's safety in numbers, and they like each other better than anybody else--particularly their constituents -- like them. But this would suggest they really are afraid of voters.
It also suggests that any need to find "compromise" with them on the part of House Democratic leadership is bullshit.