Lots of opinions, lots of posturing from pundits and politicians.

Get the facts for yourself and be informed.

Visit the non-partisan website www.congress.org’s brief overview: http://bit.ly/7qvG8g . It will give you an explanation of the issue, an overview of the bill that passed the House and what  in the Senate, and background on the issues to passage.

Also visit the non-partisan:
FactCheck.org – http://unhub.com/Mv4z (type in “cap and trade” in search engine)
PolitiFact.com – http://unhub.com/XRSW (type in “cap and trade” in search engine)

That brings the total to 6 of 18 of Ohio Representatives (127 nationally) that have signed on in support of the Natural Gas Act of 2009. In addition to Rep. LaTourette, Ohio co-sponsors include:

Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (D-OH 9th)
Congressman Pat Tiberi (R-OH 12th)
Congresswoman Betty Sutton (D-OH 13th)
Congressman John Boccieri (D-OH 16)
Congressman Tim Ryan (D-OH 17th)

We are still trying to get the three Ohio Representatives listed below on board as co-sponsors. Please take 5 minutes and use the information below to ask for their support.

US Rep Fudge (OH-11 in the Cleveland area)
Email – http://unhub.com/n99Z (this is through the PickensPlan website)
Phone – 202-225-7032
Twitter – www.twitter.com/mlfudge

US Rep Space (OH-18 in the eastern part of central OH to the Ohio River)
Email – http://unhub.com/n99Z (this is through the PickensPlan website)
Phone – 202-225-6265
Twitter – www.twitter.com/RepZackSpace

US Rep Wilson (OH-06 from Youngstown, along the Ohio River to Portsmouth, OH)
Email – http://unhub.com/n99Z (this is through the PickensPlan website)
Phone – 202-225-5705
Website – http://unhub.com/6kJB

Thank you all for the support and the help! You can learn more about HR 1835 but visiting www.congress.org.

With a $1.6 million dollar grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration the college will soon begin construction of the Hocking College Energy Institute. The green building will house Hocking College‘s energy programs. The programs include associate and certificate programs in alternative energy, fuel cells and hybrid vehicles.

Located outside of Wayne National Forest, Hocking College is located in Nelsonville, OH 10 minutes north of Athens, OH.

Abraham Lincoln, borrowing from the New Testament, said “A house divided against itself will not stand”. So, I ask again, do you think we can agree on principle. Specifically three principles?

- Children in the United States should have better economic opportunities than their parents.
- Access to clean water and air is important to the quality of life in the United States.
- A sound energy policy that reduces the United States dependency on foreign oil is essential to our national security.

At the moment, I’m not asking you to agree to the details of why these principles are important or the minutia of how we should address these principles, but rather, can we simply agree the above three principles are important? How about two of three? That would be an impressive agreement as well.

Let’s just assume you and I agree on two of three. In other words, we agree 67% of the time these are important principles. It doesn’t matter which two principles.

If you polled your friends, people you know and trust, like-minded people, would you agree on at least two of three principles – not details but principles; maybe not the same two of three but at least two. I’m operating on faith that the United States is more than simply red or blue.

I hear daily in the news and on television how divided we are as a nation. Yes I know – politically and socially its left versus right, liberal versus conservative, red versus blue, rich versus poor, Red Sox versus Yankees, and Ohio State versus Michigan (Go Bucks!).

We certainly have the name calling down.

In truth, we won’t ever completely agree on the details, but as a fellow American, can we find common ground on these principles. The Founder Fathers’ proposals in the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights are all based on a simple, pragmatic idea: agreement on principles. Doesn’t mean we agree on the details – refer to Thomas Jefferson and John Adams – but in principle we can agree…and in principle is found the foundation of opportunity.

In an incredibly simplistic way, my life is a reflection of this conflict between principles and details. For example, I claim healthy living is an important principle in my life. However, I still would choose a good Coney dog with onions and mustard over a salad and carrot sticks…okay maybe we agree on four things.

It’s progress towards perfection. Just because I know what’s good for me doesn’t mean I do it.

Which brings us to our nation’s energy policy. I’ve known since I was a child sitting in the back of my parents Matador waiting for our opportunity to fill-up at the pump that OPEC was flexing their muscle. Even at eight I knew we had to make some changes.

If the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results than our energy policy is crazy…or at least neurotic. So what would be a positive change?

Any ideas? Lots?

Me too.

However, I have no expertise, no connections and no money. However, I know a guy…well sort of know…and he has a plan called the PickensPlan.

T. Boone Pickens’ plan addresses at least the 67% of the principles you and I agree on…maybe 100%. So you and I – and Boone (I’ve never met the man so I’m assuming he doesn’t go by “T”) probably agree 67% of the time that for economic, environmental, and national security reasons we need to change the way we approach energy.

Again, maybe we agree 100% of the time in principle.

Some people will argue for or against certain aspects of Picken’s plan. Truthfully, I’m just happy someone with deep pockets and a streak of independence is willing to put a plan out there. Someone who has forgotten more than I’ll ever know about the energy industry, someone who is able to get ten minutes of airtime on CNN, MSNBC and Fox, and someone who is willing to put his money where is mouth is.

As such, I’m not going to spend time second guessing or armchair quarterbacking. Instead I’m going to pick up the shovel and hoe and see if I can turn some of that common ground. Then I’m going to do some sowing and weeding. Perhaps if we work together we can grow something wonderful. Occasionally, the fields will need fertilized – we’ll leave that job for the news-tainers, pundits and politicians.

I believe you love our country; so do I (that’s probably five principles we agree on – if you agree about the Coney dog). So help me. Help Boone. Help the United States. Pick up a shovel, turn some soil and help us plant the seeds to energy independence.

Begin by going to the website www.pickensplan.com, take ten minutes and watch the video, sign up for the PickensPlan’s newsletter, spread the word by talking to others and forward this email.

Keep in touch and together we can do make a difference.

Recently, I enlisted in a growing army of Americans backing a plan that would make the United States energy independent in 10 years.

Our General is a self-made billionaire who built his wealth in the oil industry and is placing his principles – and expertise — above the personalities of politics and punditry: T. Boone Pickens.

I’m asking you to take a few minutes and learn more about the plan for yourself.

If we start talking now – to each other, to the press, to the politicians – then President, elected servants and captains of industry will know we demand action. They will know we expect results.

By supporting the PickensPlan we will be giving them a blueprint for success. A blueprint that will grow our economy for future generations, protect our air and water and ensure our nation’s long-term security.

Be well. Be warm. Be free.
Sean Kinney
www.pickensplan.com
www.twitter.com/PickensPlan
www.twitter.com/PickensPlanOhio
www.twitter.com/Sean_Kinney