EAST FISHKILL - Republican candidate Kieran Lalor is criticizing U.S. Rep. John Hall, D-Dover Plains, and his other congressional Democrats for leaving Washington without addressing pressing issues like the continuing energy crisis.

Lalor, who is challenging Hall for his seat in New York's 19th Congressional District, said Hall is "simply dishonest" when he says he wants immediate relief from high fuel prices.

"If Hall and his colleagues in Congress were serious about an energy policy, they wouldn't be on a five-week paid vacation," Lalor said. "They'd be in Washington right now debating and coming up with some solutions to our problems energy-wise."

A spokeswoman for Hall took exception to Lalor's characterization.

"Congressman Hall has been working in the Hudson Valley all week, visiting veterans at VA hospitals and meeting with constituents and local home heating oil companies about lowering oil prices," Meaghan Smith said. "He is ready and willing to return to Washington any day of the week to resume voting on real energy solutions."

Smith blamed the logjam in Washington on the Republicans.

"Every single week this summer, Hall has voted on legislation to address our energy crisis, but the Republican minority's outrageous parliamentary tactics have halted any progress," she said. "Congressman Hall believes that, instead of resorting to partisan infighting and political 'gotchas,' Congress should work together to pass laws that will bring down oil prices and jump-start the economy."