WASHINGTON — Rep. Zach Wamp, R-Tenn., had barely left the House floor after voting Thursday when a Republican leadership aide approached him to ask if he meant to support a Democratic-backed bill to release oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve.

“Yes,” Rep. Wamp told the aide. “I know what I did. I’m a grown man.”

Twice in the past two weeks, Rep. Wamp has bucked his party’s leaders, much to their ire, on energy-related votes, but he said Republican opposition to Democratic bills that take steps to increase oil supply is counterproductive and blatant partisanship.

“The Democrats’ energy bills don’t go far enough, but in this case, (House) Speaker (Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif.) recognizes there’s a supply problem,” he said. “I supported this in concept, and just because it’s the Speaker’s idea, I’m not going to change my position.”

REPUBLICAN PLAN MET BY PROTESTERS

Rep. Wamp did stand with Republican leadership in announcing an energy bill that includes promoting oil drilling on the U.S. coasts’ outer continental shelf and in the Alaska National Wildlife Refuge.

House Republicans held a news conference Wednesday on the steps of the Capitol to unveil the bill and were met by about 150 protesters from environmental groups, who held signs reading “Save Our Shores” and “Just Say No To False Solutions.”

The Republicans, however, said polls show an increasing number of Americans willing to support increased oil drilling to address high gas prices.

“We are still really pushing for votes on new capacity,” Rep. Wamp said. “It’s a problem for the Democrats because they’re trying to appease their left-wing extreme environmentalist base. I do think this is the most obvious difference between the two parties in several years.”

Democratic leaders have opposed drilling measures, saying it would take at least a decade for the drilling to produce oil, while doing nothing to reduce the country’s reliance on fossil fuels.

SENATE IN A STALEMATE

Meanwhile in the Senate, Republicans blocked efforts by Democrats to end debate and bring up for a vote a Democratic-backed bill that would increase oversight of oil futures markets.

Republicans have charged that the Democrats’ focus on oil speculators is a smokescreen that ignores the realities of supply and demand. Senate Republicans, like their House counterparts, want to bring up legislation that allows for more oil drilling.

“The Senate shouldn’t adjourn until we have a full debate on finding more American energy and using less,” said Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn. “Instead, the Democrat leadership is playing parliamentary games that are blocking a full and open process to debate and vote on real solutions the American people are expecting and deserve.”

Democrats counter that Republicans are stalling any efforts to address high gas prices to score political points.

Democrats have given Republicans a chance to offer an amendment that would include drilling provisions, but Republicans rejected the offer, saying they want open debate on a range of their proposals.

“Republicans once again have run away from an opportunity to provide a short-term solution to our energy crisis,” said Sen. Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev. “While Democrats have worked to stop greedy speculators who artificially inflate oil prices, Republicans have chosen to protect them.”

CHAMBLISS, CORKER WORK ON ENERGY

Amid the standoff, a bipartisan group of 10 senators, including Sens. Saxby Chambliss, R-Ga., and Bob Corker, R-Tenn., continues to work on drafting a compromise energy proposal.

The senators said they hope to have the legislation prepared before Congress adjourns for the August recess on Aug. 3.

“My constituents are interested in meaningful policy that will address the extremely high energy costs they are facing today,” Sen. Chambliss said on the floor this past week. “They know that in order to deliver real results, we must develop legislation designed to address the entire problem: supply, demand and market oversight.”

Compiled by Washington D.C. correspondent Herman Wang.