The president openly endorsed the use of natural gas in his state of the union address and actively campaigned for it on the stump during the weeks afterwards.

Joe Coyer,
Longmont, CO

Interestingly, the opposition to this legislation did not come from the oil or coal industries. Oil companies are quite often natural gas producers, and coal state Senators supported this amendment almost unanimously.

As I understand it, the organized opponents were the Heritage Foundation, the chemical industry and the environmental lobby, as odd an alliance of bedfellows as you’ll ever see.
Incidentally, the President has been openly opposed to the increased use of natural gas and campaigns against it consistently.

I am reserving my ire for the so-called conservative Senators from our nation’s largest natural gas producing states, who consistently decry what they consider to be unfair criticism of this vital industry.

Their vote against this measure was in direct opposition to their constituents who are struggling to make ends meet, and was the VERY HEIGHT OF HYPOCRISY. I have listed their names, states, and political parties below for your information-

John Cornyn, Texas, Republican
Kay Bailey Hutchison, Texas, Republican
James Inhofe, Oklahoma, Republican
Mike Lee, Utah, Republican
Lisa Murkowski, Alaska, Republican
Pat Toomey, Pennsylvania, Republican
David Vitter, Louisiana, Republican

Their votes against this PAID FOR (via USER FEES) version of the “Pickens Plan” were unconscionable. With their support, it would have passed easily.

You should also know that Senator Inhofe is now introducing yet another Natural Gas Transportation bill, no doubt to give these Senators “cover” for their irresponsibility. This means there must have significant “blowback” for this vote from the folks back home who previously supported them. One can only hope!

Paul Killinger
Slidell, LA