So what did I do last week.
Drove 55 mph down I-70 for about 400 miles -- and lived.
We had a very sick little niece at a hospital in Indianapolis, so we decided to drive over and support her and the family. With gas hovering around $3.75 a gallon (and my Passat requires mid-grade), I decided to use that mpg gauge on my control panel and just see what difference it would make to slow down.
So I locked in on the slow lane and set the cruise control at 55 mpg and headed west, only slightly speedier than the wagon trains which once traveled this route. I was being the much-mocked "Sunday Driver," talking to my wife, watching the grass (and bugs) go by on the berm and ignoring the alien bumpers which zoomed up behind me like cats on a mouse.
(Now I could tell by their expressions that these drivers were not happy with me, especially if the passing lane was temporarily blocked. But in 10 hours on the road, nobody honked, raised a finger or otherwise took their criticism to a higher level.)
And at trip's end, I had documented that my Passat Wagon, which normally gets 26-27 mpg on the highway, is capable of 32-33 mpg at the slower speed. That's about a 20 percent saving, or 70-some cents a gallon.
The down side:
It took longer, maybe an hour longer each way, between Columbus and Indianapolis.
That meant my wife got grumpy about an hour earlier, although she didn't seem to worry about "the crazies" since all she saw was the clear lane ahead of us.
Being a guy, it wasn't pleasant being passed by everything on the road, including a few Amish buggies (just kiddin).
Probably lost Dave Robinson (12th District congressional candidate) a few votes, since I had his sticker on my back bumper.
But all in all, it seemed worth it and hopefully as gas prices continue to climb, some of these hot wheelers will decide to start economizing. My advice, however, is don't commit to 55 if you're running late, or driving on a two-lane road (now that would be suicide!).
And slap a (removable) McCain sticker on your rear bumper just for the fun of it.
Seventy-cents less a gallon, and a roadful of drivers pissed at the GOP. What's not to like?
Posted by: Dspisak (IP Logged)
Date: May 10, 2008 09:51AM
Why does the Mahoning Valley seem like it lags 50 years behing the rest of the country and state?
It's because we continue to re-elect the same old tired politicians to Columbus. Term-limits were to bring new blood into government....instead all we did what allow our old blood politicians to play musicial chairs with legistlative jobs.
Mr. Gerberry got term-limited out....Mr. Carano took a government position, Mr. Gerberry went back to Columbus as state rep to replace Mr. Carano.
Now that Mr. Boccheri looks like he will be the next congressman of Stark County, Mr. Gerberry has already been mentioned as to appointed back to the Ohio Senate. As so it goes.
We don't want to support WRTA because people believe they don't need to use the bus and don't want the poor or possible gang members to use the system to get to our retail centers on 224 or Mahoning Ave.
Now as we see the city of Youngstown shrink and gas prices rise, this communtiy will return to what this area looked like during the great depression. Being 49 years old, my parents told me stories of how they couldn't afford cars because of low wages, and had to use mass trnsportation to get to retail centers in downtown Youngstown. History is beginning to repeat itself in the valley.
We will need mass transit to get to retail centers on 224....we do need living wage jobs in the valley. We need new renewable energy companies and manufacturing jobs brought back to this valley that will require blue collar skills to build the mechanical components for renewable energy equipment.
As far as our fear of gangs and increased violence, when we had manufacturing jobs people could go to work, make a living wage, and did not have to commit crime.
Let's bring back that concept to the valley. Let us have renewable manufacturing jobs available so we can tell our youth, "put down the handgun, pick up a chaulk gun, earn a living wage, and help your family incoprporate renewable energy sources to's your family and neighbor's homes to help them save money on soaring energy costs."
That's what my Independent Green Party run for State Representative for the 60th district is all about. You can tell a lot about a country, a city, and a valley on how they help their poor,working, and middle class.
In Friday's Vindicator Editorial Cartoon we see the Myanmar Junta holding up his hand and in the other hand holding a sign reading " No Foreign Aid." That is actually what our current old-time politicians are saying to the rest of the federal, state, and business world.
We don't need or want your help or aid beacuse we fear will lose control of our power base.
The Local Democratic Party that supported the poor, working, and middle class and in return my father grew up and supported this party in the 1930's and 1940's is not that same party that we have today. Today's local Democrats like Bob Hagan support the over 100 lobbyists and Corportate PACS that place money in Hagan's political war chest each year. Since the local Democrats no longer support the poor working, and middle class of the valley, it is time we elect independents and show the local Democratic machine the door.
We wonder why less and less people become active and engaged in the civic duty of voting. It's because the local party bosses decide for us who to support.
Some people have asked if I were elected to the state house what my one vote could do to change things for the better. Well, my one vote in the house may not be able to change things, but my one voice would be outside the state house each week with a microphone or mega phone leading a march around the state house with the poor, working, and middle class demanding living wages jobs, better health care, better school funding, and making Ohio a better place to live and raise our families.
Dennis Spisak-Independent Green Party Candidate for State Representative-60th District
campaign site: Http://votespisak.tripod.com
It is no secret that Nancy Pelosi and Newt Gingrich don't always see eye to eye, but they do agree that on the issue of climate change, we must take action now.
Click here to forward this video to a friend or click here to learn more about the We Campaign. You can also read more about Newt Gingrich and climate change here.
Gov. Ted Strickland signed into law a comprehensive energy bill today, providing a long-term framework that ensures all Ohioans have access to reliable and affordable electricity.
"Ohio has set the standard for other states to follow as they work to protect their citizens and their business climate from devastating rate increases,'' said Robert J. Lapp, Vice President-Government Affairs for The Timken Company and co-chair of the Ohio Coalition for Affordable Power. "The Governor and legislative leaders demonstrated courage and wisdom in addressing this complex issue.''
Alan H. McCoy, Vice President, Government and Public Relations, for AK Steel Corporation in West Chester, echoed Lapp's sentiments.
"This new law sends a clear message across the country that Ohio is a good place in which to work and live,'' said McCoy, who also co-chaired the Coalition. "Ohio has taken the all-important first step in averting electrical rate increases that would have driven businesses to flee and caused their employees and families to suffer.''
Senate Bill 221 takes effect in 90 days.
Both Lapp and McCoy stressed that many critical decisions remain in order to fully implement the new law, and they pledged to continue to work on behalf of all consumers as the implementation phase begins.
For nearly a year, the co-chairs managed the activities of the Coalition, a diverse and ever-expanding group that formed to address concerns that Ohio residents and businesses would see sudden and severe increases in their electric bills when rate caps are lifted next year.
Ohio was among 17 states that opted for electricity deregulation, hoping it would do to the power industry what it did for the telecommunication and airline industries: Bring consumers lower prices through increased competition. Instead, the competition never arrived and utility bills skyrocketed in other states that failed to address the problem in a timely fashion.
In Maryland, some electrical rates jumped 71 percent overnight. In Illinois, they rose 55 percent. The price hikes were devastating for electricity-intensive manufacturers such as steel and aluminum companies and their employees.
Although it began as a manufacturers' group, the Coalition, and ultimately Senate Bill 221, won the endorsement of 129 large and small businesses, interest groups, trade associations, hospitals and labor organizations.
The new law protects consumers by giving state regulators the power to cut rates if utilities are earning excessive profits, and it requires state regulators to conduct a prudency review to ensure that utilities are only passing on appropriate costs to the ratepayers. It promotes accountability and transparency by requiring all side deals to be open to the public.
Utilities benefit by getting guaranteed cost recovery if they build expensive new power plants, upgrade existing plants or must comply with new environmental regulations.
Thomas Friedman has taken a trip back from crazyville to bring us a great piece on our energy policy (for a summary, see post title), which is an embarrassment for both sides of the aisle:
Few Americans know it, but for almost a year now, Congress has been bickering over whether and how to renew the investment tax credit to stimulate investment in solar energy and the production tax credit to encourage investment in wind energy. The bickering has been so poisonous that when Congress passed the 2007 energy bill last December, it failed to extend any stimulus for wind and solar energy production. Oil and gas kept all their credits, but those for wind and solar have been left to expire this December.
On Friday hear the keynote address by Jim Merkel, author of Read More »
April 27, 2008
As we see more and more renewable energy technology and manufacturing coming to Ohio, I continue to raise the question, why is Youngstown always lagging behind?
For 20 years Bob Hagan has served our valley in Columbus and has no accomplishments to show for bringing jobs back to the poor, working, and middle class of the 60th district.
The bottom line is Bob Hagan does not have the leadership abilities to get the job done.
It's time we elect an independent candidate to the state house who will spend less time fighting with Republicans and spend more time delivering solutions to industry challenges and jobs for the 60th district.
As the independent candidate for State Representative, I pledge to work with an innovative infrastructure of technology, research and development, transportation infrastructure, and funding, to afford companies a competitive advantage in the evolving marketplace of renewable energy and offer forward thinking companies an innovative and pro-business environment in which to succeed for years to come.
For many companies, the bridge between research and commercialization has proven challenging. I will help accelerate this phase by providing clients direct access to cutting edge research at Ohio universities and other prime research facilities. We need to work with businesses and their research partners each step of the way, providing industry-specific advice, industrial process, and market knowledge.
Every effort must be made to connect qualified clients with funding opportunities through incentives, matching research grants, low interest loans, and access to potential investors via angel investor networks and venture capitalist organizations. Also, pairing proposed production facilities with end users such as military bases or industrial plants
I will also work in matching clients with other companies, growers, government agencies and suppliers to form commercially successful collaborations. Each situation brings unique a unique set of needs. These variables may include real estate, labor pool, transportation or access to airports, railyards, industrial parks, or other needs.
This is the type of leadership Bob Hagan has failed to deliver to the 60th district.
It's time for a change. If not now, when?
Dennis Spisak-Independent Green Party Candidate for State Representative-60th District
Campaign site: Http:// votespisak.tripod.com
Visit our links to renewable energy and progressive works programs
Husted withdraws controversial legislation, vows to try again
Husted unveiled an outline of the House's plan that, in essence, weakened the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio's authority to regulate electric utilities while giving the companies the long-sought autonomy to act with few restraints and sell their power on the open market.
Governor threatens veto
The next day, Strickland made two moves that turned the tables on Husted.
Strickland promised to veto the bill as written. He also pledged to immediately sign stand-alone legislation on the alternative and renewable energy issues, a step that focused all the ensuing attention on electric bills and utility profits.
And unfortunately for the hugely talented Husted, he was in the position of defending utility profits.
The speaker responded to the veto promise by stating he would send a bill to the governor's desk and Strickland could do as he wished with the measure.
In the past, this strategy would have worked, but Strickland is not Taft and the Republicans are not as confident as they once were.
On the one hand Jon says it was "GOP rereg bill". On the other hand Jon says it was a bi-partisan re-reg bill.
But then again, he was against protecting consumers, until the Governor's veto threat over excessive earnings made him for it.
Now he and the Ohio GOP somehow seem to be taking credit for it???
Mr. Speaker -- very "artful phrasing" there.
Watch it:
Husted Blinks: Agrees to Governors Electric Reregulation Language
April 25, 2008
CnnMoney.com has now renamed Youngstown as the "Incredible Shrinking City." But when Governor Strickland signs into law next week Ohio's New Energy Bill Youngstown can quickly see re-growth with the creation of a new manufacturing industry in Ohio -- renewable energy. Wind turbine installers have all but promised to rush into the Buckeye state because utilities here will be required to begin generating a portion of their power with wind, solar and other renewable technologies. And by sending new leadership to Columbus and replacing non-productive Bob Hagan in the state house with an Independent Green Party State Representative, the 60th district can be placing "sold" signs in yards instead of paying people to move out of parts of the city.
As the Independent Green Party Candidate for State Representative, I have made it one of my main campaign issues that renewable energy companies can rebuild our valley. Such companies and manufacturers are already producing job growth across the country and our state, and as the new representative in Columbus I will be able to work with private investors, green corporations, and federal grants to bring blue-collar and high tech green collar jobs to the 60th district. Youngstown
As a Green Party Member, we advocated renewable energy as well as the manufacturers of wind turbines and solar equipment who pushed Strickland to live up to his campaign rhetoric that such technologies could create a new industry in job-starved Ohio. What we won was a mandate requiring that 12.5 percent of the power sold in Ohio come from renewable technologies by 2025 and -- thanks to the House -- a year-by-year step-up or benchmark that must be met.
The greens also won a "carve-out" for solar power. The bill requires 0.5 percent of the renewable power to come from solar systems. The House put that number at 1 percent but had to back it down at the request of the Senate.
The House also kept in language creating energy efficiency mandates that will require each utility to show over the next 17 years that it has helped its customers reduce their power consumption by a total of 22 percent -- reducing the need for a costly new power plant.
Youngstown has been given a chance to become the Green Energy Manufacturing Giant for the 21st Century. Now it's time to put an Independent Green Party State Representative in Columbus to help this program along. It's time to bring Bob Hagan with all his fossil fuel lobbyist and PAC money home.
The Future for Youngstown is Green. If not now, when?
Dennis Spisak-Independent Green Party Candidate for State Representative-60th District
Campaign site: Http://votespisak.tripod.com
Check out our links to progressive job programs and renewable energy jobs for the valley.
David Robinson, 12th Congressional District Candidate, will be attending a Dublin house party at the home of Lucy and Al Gabel, located at 7190 Coffman Road on April 29, 2008 and beginning at 7:00 PM.
This event is open to all that wish to attend.
Suggested Donations: Sponsors-$200, Guests-$50
Please RSVP, by e-mail to agabel7190@aol.com or call 614-889-8282. Please include your name and telephone number with your RSVP.
Directions: Exit at 17A from 270, Rt. 33, 161. Go East to the first light. Turn left onto Post Rd. You will go going West over 270. At the first light, turn right onto Coffman Rd. Proceed North to 7190 Coffman Rd.
For more information about David Robinson and his campaign platform, please visit http://www,robinson2008.com
Hospitals, farmers and factories praised the final version of Ohio's comprehensive energy bill and said it should serve as a model for other states struggling to avoid the price spikes and uncertainty brought about by deregulation.
By a vote of 32 to 0, the Ohio Senate gave final legislative approval to the bill Wednesday, ending a year-long debate over how to protect customers and utility investors and improve the state's business climate. Senate Bill 221 heads to Gov. Ted Strickland who said he will sign it into law.
"Ohio has finalized a bill guaranteed to help our state attract new manufacturing jobs and improve the competitive edge of manufacturing facilities that already call Ohio home,'' said Alan H. McCoy, who serves as Vice President, Government and Public Relations, for AK Steel Corp., in Westchester, and co-chair of the Ohio Coalition for Affordable Power. "This is a jobs bill.''
Robert J. Lapp, Vice President-Government Affairs for The Timken Company, said the Ohio plan helps customers in the short term, while preserving the right to shop for electricity if a viable competitive market develops in the long term.
"Ohio's leaders took the time and energy to bring a sophisticated solution to a complex problem,'' said Lapp, who also serves as the Coalition's co-chair. "Other states would be wise to follow Ohio's lead.''
Hospitals praised provisions intended to improve reliability.
"Today's medical technology relies on uninterrupted electric service, and this law gives the state new tools to promote reliable power,'' said Bridget Gargan, Vice President State Policy and Advocacy for the Ohio Hospital Association.
Hospital representatives who testified in support of the legislation said they have experienced an increase in power outages over the past several years and they praised a provision that allows state regulators to give financial incentives to utilities that provide high-quality service.
Ohio's farmers emphasized portions of the bill that will promote green energy.
"Farmers, rural residents, and agri-businesses will benefit from the passage of S. B. 221," said Ohio Farm Bureau executive vice president John C. "Jack" Fisher. "In addition to moving Ohio forward on the use of renewable and advanced energy, and addressing the needs of small electric generators, the bill protects consumers by ensuring oversight of rates by the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio. We are pleased with the results of this collaborative effort by the Governor and General Assembly."
The Ohio Hospital Association and Ohio Farm Bureau were members of OCAP, a broad-based group that worked for passage of legislation to spare Ohio from unfair and unnecessary price hikes when rate caps are scheduled to begin expiring next year.
April 23, 2008
Bob Hagan is the real reason Youngstown is left behind when it comes to bringing new renewable energy companies and jobs to the 60th district. It's not clouds, but no vision or effort on the part of Bob Hagan to secure the necessary leadership abilities to get the job done.
Bob Hagan has been in Columbus for 20 years and can't get a grant for renewable energy...yet a Toledo senator can:
This in via email from the office of District 2 Ohio Senator Mark Wagoner:
WAGONER ANNOUNCES MORE THAN $1.2 MILLION IN STATE GRANTS TO SUPPORT ADVANCED ENERGY RESEARCH IN OHIO
Wagoner: Employers in Lucas County among companies with potential to make Ohio a leader in fuel cells, solar energy
Columbus - State Senator Mark Wagoner (R-Toledo) today announced that the State Controlling Board has approved the release of more than $1.2 million in state grants to two organizations within the 2nd Senate District. The funds, made possible through the state's Third Frontier Program, will support these groups in their efforts to develop and produce advanced energy technology in Ohio. The hope, according to Wagoner, is to advance Ohio's position as leader in the budding fuel cell and solar power industries.
Among the grants approved today, Xunlight 26 Solar, LLC, was awarded $977,924 from the state's Advanced Energy Program to support its work in developing technology to produce next generation solar technology. Xunlight is collaborating with the University of Toledo and Akron Polymer Systems on this project, which incorporates three technologies developed in Ohio directly dealing with solar energy.
The University of Toledo was also awarded $250,000 to advance its collaboration with another company on the development of a cellulosic biomass fermentation process, which is a new method for producing ethanol. The project seeks to incorporate two patented technologies that are currently licensed to SuGanit Systems.
According to Wagoner, the work at Xunlight and the University of Toledo in the area of solar energy and bio-fuels is important to Ohio not only because of their potential as a domestic source of energy, but also because the technology these companies are developing could lead to increased manufacturing and more jobs in Ohio.
"The success companies like Xunlight and education institutions like the University of Toledo have had in developing alternative energy sources is a testament to the ingenuity and know how of the workforce in our region," Wagoner stated. "The investment we are making today will only further advance these achievements by providing these organizations the capital and support necessary to move forward."
Bob Hagan has spent 20 unproductive years in Columbus representing Youngstown. It's time to bring him home!
It's time to bring grants,companies, and jobs to the Mahoning Valley. I will see that Youngstown does not continue to be passed by cities like Toledo, Bowling Green, Athens, and even the small rural areas of Ohio.
Dennis Spisak-Independent Green Party Candidate for State Representative-60th District
Campaign Site: Http://votespisak.tripod.com
Visit our link on renewable energy jobs for the valley and Progressive Works Programs.
Advocates for employers and residential customers praised House-passed changes to the comprehensive energy bill Tuesday, saying they are designed to provide the safeguards needed to protect residential customers and businesses from the rate shock seen in other states where a dysfunctional market set the price of electricity.
Eric Burkland, president of the Ohio Manufacturers’ Association, said the changes would enhance Ohio’s business climate by bringing affordable and reliable power to one of America’s leading manufacturing states.
“These changes will improve Ohio’s ability to attract and retain good-paying jobs, while still allowing utilities to earn a reasonable profit,’’ Burkland said. “This is fair to all parties.’’
David Rinebolt, executive director of Ohio Partners for Affordable Energy, an advocacy group representing low-income residential customers, said the bill provides needed protections for residential rate-payers.
“The compromise is better for consumers than current law, and the efficiency and renewable provisions will benefit customers in the short and long term,’’ Rinebolt said.
Burkland’s OMA and Rinebolt’s OPAE are part of the Ohio Coalition for Affordable Power, a diverse group that formed last summer to work for passage of legislation designed to spare Ohio from unfair and unnecessary rate hikes when rate caps are scheduled to begin expiring next year.
The pro-customer provisions in the House-passed bill call for::
- Giving state regulators the power to cut rates if utilities are earning excessive profits. The authority applies if the utility chooses either to remain regulated under an Electric Security Plan (ESP) or chooses the Market Rate Option (MRO);
- Requiring the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) to conduct a prudency review to ensure that utilities are only passing on appropriate costs to their customers;
- Giving the PUCO the authority to intervene to prevent “abrupt or substantial’’ rate increases for a utility that chose the MRO;
- Promoting accountability and transparency by requiring all side deals to be open to the public;
- Preventing utilities from immediately charging high market rates by requiring PUCO approval for a utility to sell its generation assets;
- Ending regulatory transition charges, commonly known as stranded costs;
- Removing language that could have increased generation costs for customers of AEP subsidiary Ohio Power by 80 to 90 percent;
- Preserving the right of customers to shop for electricity if market prices ever become competitive with Ohio’s regulated rates;
- Promoting improved reliability by allowing the commission to provide financial incentives to utilities that provide high-quality service.
See Also: Husted Blinks: Agrees to Governors Electric Reregulation Language
The Ohio House moments ago passed an amendment 92-0 to the Electric reregulation Bill that included language allowing for regulation of electricity based on "Excessive Earnings" language. Governor Ted Strickland had held his ground on the inclusion of that language to protect Ohio consumers.The House passed the legislation 93-1 with Rep. Okey recusing himself from the vote.
It heads to Senate session this afternoon and likely will not go to Conference Committee if the Senate concurs to the legislation. Given the inclusion of the Senate and House in the Governor's deliberation it likely will become law at the Senate's 1:30 session.
The session which began at 1 p.m. lasted until 1:16 p.m. - blink and it was over. And blink it was as Rep. Husted acquiesced to Gov. Strickland after a very tenuous previous 10 days of negotiating.
See Also: Husted Makes A Mess Out Of Proposed Energy Legislation
April 22, 2008
Last month, Gov. Ted Strickland stood on the roof of The Toledo Museum of Art to observe the installation of the electricity-generating modules, and to highlight his energy bill that he said would spur alternative and renewable sources of power.
"This is one example of what could be done to make our state more progressive and to make us less dependent on outside supplies for our energy needs," Mr. Strickland said.
The 1,450 solar panels that are taking over a portion of the museum's roof will generate 101 kilowatts of peak power on a sunny day, or about one-fifth of the museum's energy needs, art museum Director Don Bacigalupi said.
Mr. Bacigalupi said the total cost of installing the energy panels would be less than $500,000. The museum received a grant of $147,500 from the Ohio Department of Development for the project, according to Carol Bintz, a development officer for the museum.
The panels were made by First Solar Inc. of Perrysburg and are being installed by Advanced Distributed Generation LLC of Toledo. John Witte of ADG said the electricity produced by the panels at peak use would be enough to power about 25 homes.
First Solar panels are also in use at the University of Toledo, Bowling Green State University, and the governor's mansion in Columbus.
Nikki Jaworski, a spokesman for the Ohio Department of Development, said the art museum's array is one of the largest in the state. She said the department last June awarded a grant of $438,372 for a 121-kilowatt solar project at the Jeffrey Place condominium project in Columbus.
Now, go to the Internet Campaign Home Page of State Representative Bob Hagan and you see a nice picture of Bob sitting next to Governor Strickland.
If Mr. Hagan and the Governor are so close, why are solar panels not installed on the Butler Institute of American Art building in Youngstown? Why are there not solar panel renewable companies and manufacturers in the Mahoning Valley? Why are the areas of Toledo and Bowling Green and Columbus receiving grants to fund renewable energy and not Youngstown?
If the Governor believes Ohio must spur alternative and renewable sources of power, why is no progress-taking place in Youngstown?
You would think after 20 years of being in Columbus Bob Hagan would have the political clout and respect to have Youngstown, Ohio at the forefront of these types of grants? But he doesn't. And that's why Bob Hagan needs to be replaced as State Representative for the 60th District.
Dennis Spisak-Independent Green Party Candidate for State Representative-60th District
Campaign wed site: Http://votespisak.tripod.com
Visit our links page on Alternative Energy Jobs for the Valley
The Akron Beacon Journal tell is like it is in yesterday's comprehensive report regarding the Energy legislation being considered in the Ohio House.
They place the blame for the current mess squarely upon House Speaker Jon Husted.
Well worth reading.
House leader, governor face off over energy bill
Husted withdraws controversial legislation, vows to try again
Husted Ticks Off Governor
Husted finds himself in a unique and most uncomfortable position.
For the first time, there is open tension between the two leaders over the critically important and highly controversial electric re-regulation bill.
The friction between Strickland and Husted has strained the speaker's relationship with Republicans in the Ohio Senate and weakened his position in his own House GOP caucus.
There is a lot at stake — profits, political careers, scary electric outages, scarier yet voter outrage, even business revolt — in attempting to craft legislation to regulate the $14 billion electric utility industry in Ohio.
Agreements, called rate stabilization plans, that have frozen rates for electric utilities in Ohio will begin to expire at the end of this year. When those contracts are gone, the state could experience the skyrocketing increase in electric bills felt in other states, where utilities were free to operate as if a competitive market existed when one did not.
Husted Backs Big Energy Companies
Everything changed within 24 hours, beginning April 10.
Husted unveiled an outline of the House's plan that, in essence, weakened the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio's authority to regulate electric utilities while giving the companies the long-sought autonomy to act with few restraints and sell their power on the open market.
The next day, Strickland made two moves that turned the tables on Husted.
Strickland promised to veto the bill as written. He also pledged to immediately sign stand-alone legislation on the alternative and renewable energy issues, a step that focused all the ensuing attention on electric bills and utility profits.
And unfortunately for the hugely talented Husted, he was in the position of defending utility profits.
The speaker responded to the veto promise by stating he would send a bill to the governor's desk and Strickland could do as he wished with the measure.
In the past, this strategy would have worked, but Strickland is not Taft and the Republicans are not as confident as they once were.
Jon Husted "The Tom Delay of The Ohio House"
Husted didn't help his cause when the House Public Utilities Committee, chaired by Stark County's John Hagan, R-Alliance, once again demonstrated a complete disregard for the public's feelings and held a Monday hearing on the bill that lasted until after 3 a.m. Tuesday.
Around that time, Republicans introduced an omnibus amendment that only a few members had reviewed.
Anyone with a decent sense of democracy is sickened whenever lawmakers pull out an omnibus amendment of unknown origin that, in essence, rewrites entire sections of law without debate or surface deliberation.
Husted Loses Backing of Worried Republicans
Husted, for the first time in his charmed legislative career, is realizing he has no other choice.Read the Full Story by Dennis J. Willard at Ohio.comThere was another political consideration prompted by the veto.
Republican lawmakers were not prepared to waste a vote on the re-regulation bill that could come back to haunt them in future elections, should electric rates soar, and then two or three weeks later be asked again to support a bipartisan compromise.
Not when the vote was considered pro-utility and anti-consumer.
So Husted pulled the plug Wednesday and vowed to come back this week to try again.
He should use a little bit of that electricity everyone is worried about to shed some light on the process for the sake of consumers, companies, utilities, his own members and Democrats.
And considering he was in no hurry from October to April, a few weeks of open discussion can only help build bipartisan support for an energy bill.
While Reverend Al Sharpton and Pat Robertson have different views on most issues, when it comes to the urgency of protecting the planet, they agree.
"I am honored that Al Gore asked me to be a part of this campaign urging people to take care of the planet," Robertson said on the Christian Broadcast Network. “It's just common sense that we ought to be good stewards of the environment and do everything within our power to protect this fragile planet that we all live on."
At the taping of this clip, the two joked and prayed together. If these polar opposites can come together on this important and moral issue, why can't we?
Please join more than one million others who know it will take all of us coming together to solve the climate crisis.
Cross Posted From ProgressEarth
The 45th vice president and author of the book Former Vice President Al Gore will appear May 4 in Value City Arena on the Ohio State University campus. The 45th vice president and author of the book An Inconvenient Truth will speak about the role of communities and universities in achieving environmental sustainability.
Along with Rajendra K. Pachauri, Gore was awarded the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize for efforts to draw attention to global warming.
The Gore-led Alliance for Climate Protection,launched with plans to "ignite" Americans into taking action on global climate change.
"When people unite and call for action, change is inevitable," says the Alliance's website.
Tickets for Mr. Gore's talk-- $37.50 plus service charges -- are being sold at the Schottenstein Center box office and Ticketmaster outlets.
As Senator McCain has pledged to "clean up the planet," he should start taking legislative actions that are consistent with those convictions. Opposing polluter giveaways in the Lieberman-Warner bill should be the first step.
Watch it:
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