Public approval of Congress may be at shoestring levels, but the House Republican Conference has found at least one way to boost morale among members — give them "spirit awards" for actually speaking on the floor. Rep. Kay Granger of Texas, vice chairwoman of the Republican caucus, organized an awards ceremony last week to honor members who expelled the most CO2 on the subject of energy; each of the seven honorees received a commemorative oil can.

“It’s not a quart; it was like collectors’ memorabilia,” said an impressed Rep. Joe Wilson, of South Carolina, who was not among last week’s winners. Those who were: Georgia Reps. Phil Gingrey, Lynn A. Westmoreland and Tom Price; Indiana Rep. Dan Burton; North Carolina Rep. Virginia Foxx; Ohio Rep. Bob Latta; and Pennsylvania Rep. John E. Peterson. “I’ve never won an oil can before,” said Westmoreland. “It’s on my desk, absolutely.” Still, the practice has some Republicans scratching their heads. “The idea that people who are in the House of Representatives need to give each other awards for talking bullshit, and that’s really what it is,” one Republican member said before he trailed off in disbelief. “What kind of a party is that?” For the full read, from Politico, click here.