First published in the Charleston Daily Mail, a column by Representatives Walz and Shelly Moore Capito (R-V.W.) is published in the Star Tribune under the headline, Let's put politics aside and vote on energy plan.
Walz makes an appearance on the Political Radar blog at ABC in Democrats Concerned Divisions on Energy Could Cost the White House. The piece says that the bill has 130 co-sponsors and would not likely get the support of many activists at the convention in Denver.
The Davis campaign shopped a letter to a number of area newspapers from a Preston Republican election judge bemoaning a spike in her utility bill. To tweak readers' memory, here's the passage:
My heating bill arrived today with an increase in my monthly even-pay amount for natural gas.
It will now top $100 per month starting in July. Yep, in July.
I called the gas company to ask why. My usage has consistently gone down over the past several years, and again this year, due to a great deal of weatherizing our home. The lady at the gas company says it’s going up now because natural gas prices are expected to rise again sharply for this coming winter.
Today's New York Times reports Drilling Boom Revives Hopes for Natural Gas. This gist (links added):
American natural gas production is rising at a clip not seen in half a century, pushing down prices of the fuel and reversing conventional wisdom that domestic gas fields were in irreversible decline. . . .
. . .Domestic gas production was up 8.8 percent in the first five months of this year compared with the period a year earlier, a rate of increase last seen in 1959, during the great drilling boom that followed World War II. . . .
. . .Domestic natural gas prices have already plunged 42 percent since early July, an even faster drop in price than oil or most other commodities, in part because the rapid supply growth has begun to influence the market. Price spikes remain possible, of course, but throughout the industry the shale discoveries are causing a shift in thinking about the long-term outlook. . . .
Combined with Congressman Walz's work on H.R. 6709, which will open some areas for offshore drilling, do lower natural gas prices mean that Republican activist Muriel Hanson will change her vote?
Maybe Hanson should just write that utility company to see if her bill might be adjusted to better reflect the decline in natural gas prices. Yep.
Retired accountant and political moderate McPherson Hall looks at Dr. Davis Tax Policy – Fighting for the Fortunate 230 over at Minnesota Central. He concludes:
On September 9th, voters will have a chance to vote in the Republican Primary to determine who will be on the November ballot. Davis is a neophyte that is playing on emotional issues and has never held any elective office. Contrast that with State Senator Dick Day who is in his sixth term having been first elected in 1990 where he has held leadership positions. His experience in the give-and-take necessary to move legislation forward in the areas of taxes (as well as the issues related to transportation, education, agriculture, etc.), should be weighed carefully by those primary voters.
We think Day panders on emotional issues (witness his attendance at the immigration reduction meeting a week ago in Austin) as well. Republicans will have to pick a favorite in that contest.
Congressman Walz will be in Austin today talking about increasing the mileage rate for veterans traveling to VA medical centers.
In Praise for the DC veteran, but impact on state unclear, Walz tells the Strib:
U.S. Rep. Tim Walz said he was impressed with Biden's work on behalf of the middle class.
The Mankato Free Press editorial board writes that the paper will do No more endorsements of political candidates.
Image: Shale gas deposits in the United States, from the New York Times. Those labeled are already in production. Can shale gas be exacted profitably everywhere, or do some areas lack the water resources for the process?
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