WILLIAMSBURG, Va. -- In the wake of a bruising year-end fight over taxes and government spending, House Republicans gathered last night at a posh resort here to regroup and plan for the future.

Unlike past House Republican retreats, this year's event, which runs through tomorrow, will forgo specific policy forums for a series of more free-flowing discussions that will allow conference members to speak their minds on the issues that are most important to them, GOP aides said today.

Led by Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) and Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-Va.), today's main conference sessions are broken down into two sections, focusing first on the coming 90 days on Capitol Hill before turning to longer-term planning.

The policy discussions "are designed to be rank-and-file-driven," the GOP aide said.

Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), the newly appointed vice chairwoman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, said during a break in sessions this morning that there are several energy policy issues that she and her colleagues will be pressing Boehner and Cantor on.

"Members want to get some focus back on the Keystone pipeline," Blackburn said. "That is something they are truly concerned about. They want to see that pipeline built. ... I would anticipate that it's going to be a sooner rather than later issue."

Another issue that she said might be part of both the near- and long-term planning efforts is the ongoing fight to cut federal red tape and regulations that affect job growth in the energy sector as well as families' pocketbooks.

Constituents "are hearing more about the 'war on coal.' That doesn't seem to make sense to them. I've never met anybody that wants to ... pay more on their monthly electric bill," Blackburn said.

"We know some of the EPA rules and regulations have indeed driven up the cost of energy with the way they have gone after so many of our energy producers. Looking at the overreach, that is an item that many of our members want to see put on the table [at this week's retreat], and I join them in that."

But considering some of Boehner's recent troubles with keeping his conference in line -- from a last-minute attempt by tea party conservatives to derail his speakership to two recent floor votes in which Boehner failed to obtain a majority of his conference -- this week's discussion sessions could get heated.

And for their part, Democrats have sought to fan the flames of discord that have developed in Republican ranks in recent months.

In a news release this week, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee said the retreat comes "after weeks of record low poll numbers, unparalleled dysfunction and unbelievable extremism that have rankled" the GOP conference.

"Tea Party House Republicans have had a rough month -- from the fiscal cliff to Hurricane Sandy, an attempted coup to an upcoming debt default -- they've been unable to explain their extremism and dysfunction to the American people," Jesse Ferguson, a DCCC spokesman, said in the release.

But several of the events at this year's conference seem designed to inspire members and bring them together.

Last night, members heard a keynote address from Erik Weihenmayer, a blind climber who has reached the summits of Mount Everest and several other of the world's highest peaks.

"I've never seen the members more captivated -- no one was even checking their BlackBerry," a GOP aide said.

Today, the conference is set to hear from Andy Andrews, a former homeless man turned best-selling author and motivational speaker. Andrews' presentation is titled "Sailing Above Rough Seas."

Other agenda items include a lunchtime address today from Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell (R) and former Puerto Rico Gov. Luis Fortuno (R). The GOP aide said that presentation will be focused on how the Republican House majority can better coordinate its efforts with those of the country's 30 GOP governors.

Earlier this morning, members also heard a presentation from well-known political analyst Charlie Cook.