ProgressOhio

Lost in the avalanche of grief and gossip over the death of pop idol Michael Jackson was House passage yesterday (219-212) of the omnibus energy and environmental bill by a narrow 7-vote margin.

And Licking County progressives should note - and take pride in the fact - that our congressman, Rep. Zack Space, D-Dover, voted YES on this important piece of legislation, despite opposition from farm, coal and energy lobbies so influential in his 18th District.

The Dispatch, which has fretted gleefully for months over Space's dilemma, noted in today's story on the vote that "the measure has provoked intense opposition from many Ohio officials."

Those of us who have supported Space in the past but worried about his blue-dog timidity in the face of the agriculture and gun lobbies should take heart with this show of backbone.

And kudos to the media panelists last night on WOSU-Radio's Columbus on the Record who noted Congressman Space's courage in voting for the bill.

Now, it should be recognized that the measure is not everything environmentalists wanted.  But it does set goals for reducing greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide  and establishes a cap-and-trade incentive system for pollution reductions, a similar approach to that which helped curb acid rain emissions back in the 1980s.

Yes, it will likely increase electric rates, especially in Ohio, since most of the state's generation depends on coal.  Off-sets, however, are a new program to help low-income ratepayers absorb the rate increases and new government subsidies for wind and solar which could create new jobs and industries here.

If you credit Space with making the hard - but right - choice on this bill, you might $how your appreciation at www.zackspace.org