Pa. congressman sets pace in House floor speeches
PITTSBURGH (AP) – U.S. Rep. Glenn “G.T.” Thompson says his goal is to communicate every day, and more than any of his colleagues that means making speeches on the floor of the House.
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported Sunday that the central Pennsylvania Republican has given 90 floor speeches during the current congressional session. That’s the highest total among 434 House members.
He’s argued against abortion, promoted natural gas drilling, opposed federal borrowing and supported the rights of gun owners.
The 54-year-old Thompson spoke on the floor on 63 days this session, six times as often as Republican Speaker John Boehner of Ohio.
Thompson makes a lot of speeches but they’re short, many lasting less than a minute. His longest oratory was a nine-minute discussion in May of the Affordable Care Act.