The greatest threat to our national security, our economy, and our future is our dependence on foreign oil and climate change.

Today, with the ever increasing gas and diesel prices, we are feeling the pain and paying the price for a lack of leadership and a lack of vision for the future.

For most politicians, the future is only as long as the next election cycle. They scramble to ease the pain with a band-aid hoping it will last till Election Day. I am different. I will demonstrate the leadership and vision needed to assure a bright future for America. I know Americans will rise to the occasion if there is leadership to show them the way.

I believe we must work towards energy independence with a national unity and purpose not seen since World War II. Our national security and our economy are in jeopardy. Our nation's future and our children's future are at risk.

In the U.S. we use approximately 20 million barrels of oil per day. We import more than 12 million barrels per day which is more than 60% of our total use. At $110 per barrel we are importing nearly $500 billion of oil per year.

Some of that $500 billion goes to countries, like Venezuela, who are not our friends. And, some of that money finds it way into the hands of terrorists. It has been said that we are funding both sides of the war on terrorism. Obviously, our dependence on foreign oil has serious consequences for our national security.

Imagine if that $500 billion was invested in the U.S towards energy independence. $500 billion per year -- now that is a stimulus check! And, that $500 billion would recirculate through the economy, the jobs would stay in America, the industry would stay in America; and our economy would be like the energizer bunny -- keep going, and going, and going -- for the next 20-30 years as we transition to the next clean energy.

I know we can achieve energy independence - if we have the leadership, the national will, and if we "put our minds to it!" We must act much faster than the "significantly independent by 2030" that has been proposed by the presidential candidates.

I understand that all options must be on the table. That the solution involves finding the most effective and efficient combination of conservation, innovation (research & development), efficiency, developing new oil & gas fields, recovering oil from old fields, cleaner burning coal technology, nuclear power, alternative energy such as wind, solar, and geothermal; and bio-fuels.

I know Oklahoma is especially well positioned to lead the way with increased oil and gas production; wind power; and bio-fuels.

Natural Gas: Oklahoma's energy companies are world leaders in developing new technologies and are finding new reserves every day. Natural gas, an important part of the solution, is abundant in the U.S. and Oklahoma is the nation's second largest producer.

I know that the oil and gas industry and government must work together. That cooperation does not exist today. Congress blames "big oil" for high gas prices. The oil and gas industry blames the government. The President blames Congress. The Congress blames the President. The blame game goes on and nothing gets done. We have become too divided by politicians, ideology, and the same 'ol Washington partisan politics. It's time to bridge that divide and we must come together for the future of America.

I know I can provide the leadership to bridge that divide. My job with the U.S. Forest Service involved working with oil and gas companies accessing federal mineral leases on environmentally sensitive mountainous National Forest lands. I know from experience we can develop the oil and gas resources in an environmentally sound manner.

Oil: With ever improving technology, the Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) potential from old wells in the U.S. is estimated at 80 billion barrels including the Oklahoma fields developed in the early 1900s. Oklahoma is the fifth largest producer of U.S. crude oil.

Wind Power: Oklahoma is blessed with an abundance of wind! Commercial scale wind power is progressing; but individual, small scale wind generation holds promise too.

Bio-fuels: The overall contribution of bio-fuels to reducing our energy dependence is relatively small at less than 10 percent. However, in Oklahoma, bio-fuels have the potential to make a significant contribution to the economy of rural Oklahoma.

The potential in Oklahoma for "cellulosic" ethanol is very promising. Cellulosic ethanol made from switchgrass, a native grass to Oklahoma, has many advantages:


1. Switchgrass can be grown on less productive lands which would not take good land away from food crop production

2. The net energy gain ratio of 5 to 1 is very good.

3. Switchgrass requires less intensive farming practices; that is less fertilizer, less cultivation, and no annual planting. That combined with ethanol being a cleaner burning fuel results in a net reduction in green house gas emissions which helps address issues of climate change.

I believe bio-diesel also holds promise for Oklahoma's farmers and its rural economy. Small scale bio-diesel plants could allow farmers to produce their own diesel and be independent of the vagaries of diesel prices.

The research at the Oklahoma Bio-energy Center is serving Oklahoma well but federal funding for research and development must be significantly increased for more rapid and timelier development of the cellulosic ethanol and bio-diesel industry. Our sense of priorities has totally gone astray. We spend more in Iraq in one hour; and more on imported oil in 15 minutes than the entire annual budget for cellulosic ethanol research at the Center. That is absurd! It is time to invest in America's future!"

I am ready to lead. I am ready to take action. I am ready to invest in America for a bright and promising future for our children and grandchildren.

I am ready to bring Americans together to "Get America on the Fast Track to Energy Independence!"

Climate Change

I understand why America must take the lead in responding to climate change. I believe we have a clear, unmistakable moral obligation as stewards of God's creation.

I have seen the reports of the polar ice caps melting at a much faster rate than predicted by the computer models used by the scientists on the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). More recent observations and research indicate the planet almost certainly faces a greater and more imminent threat even than that laid out in the latest IPCC reports.

I recognize there are tremendous long lasting economic dividends with an economy built on addressing both climate change and energy independence. I know American leadership in science and technology is our strength and that we must play to our strength by taking the lead in research, development and deployment of the big industry of the future - clean energy and clean technology. I believe in the creativity, resourcefulness, ingenuity, and can-do attitude of Americans. I know that if we don't take the lead, other countries will. And, in that instance, the American economy will bear the negative consequences.

I have observed that even the global warming deniers and naysayers have had to admit the planet is warming. But, by continuing to deny that green house gas emissions are a major contributing factor, 1) they deny the current best science; 2) they deny the economic potential of American science and technology taking the lead to develop clean energy; and, 3) they demonstrate their lack of confidence in the ability of American know how, brain power, and can-do attitude to find solutions. I say "Shame on them on all three counts!"

I am ready to provide the bold leadership needed in Congress to get America Back on Track to lead the world in addressing climate change and to meet our moral obligations as stewards of God's creation.

Health Care

The State of Health Care Today

The costs of health care and lack of affordability of health insurance has seriously impacted Oklahoma families and our quality of life.

In Oklahoma, our health insurance premiums went up 50% between 2001 and 2005 while incomes remained at the same level. Today, a family is paying over $11,000 a year for health insurance while the median household income is just over $37,000.

No wonder over 640,000 Oklahomans, including 146,000 children, are uninsured; almost 21% of the population. Nationwide, eighty (80) % of uninsured adults in the nation are employed but still can not afford health insurance.

Many middle income families face bankruptcy when a major medical crisis occurs, even if they have insurance. Businesses, large and small, would like to be able to provide health care benefits but, either, can no longer afford to provide their employees health benefits, or are forced to ask their employees to contribute a larger share of their salary.

Forty-one countries have longer life expectancies than we do. Despite the amazing medical advances, the many fine medical professionals and spending more per capita on health care than any country in the world; health care is on the critical list in America and in Oklahoma due to soaring health care costs.

Affordable Health Care

I firmly believe every American citizen should have access to quality, affordable health care just as every child has access to public education. It is the right thing to do!

Although reducing health care costs and finding the means for universal health care is a very complex problem to resolve, there are some basic "common sense" components to the solution that will cost very little to implement.

1) We all must take more personal responsibility for our health by eating right, exercising, quitting smoking, and maintaining a healthy weight. One of my core principles is personal responsibility and the belief that we must look to ourselves first for solutions.

Reducing health care costs begins with each individual taking personal responsibility for their well being and health. If we all took better care of ourselves we would reduce health care costs dramatically and feel a whole lot better too.

2) Prevention must drive our strategy to reduce health care costs. We need to emphasize wellness care (i.e. preventative medicine) instead of sick care (i.e. after the fact). That emphasis would involve wellness programs, information and education for all ages, and health insurance that covers and encourages preventive care.

3) Reduce the administrative costs of health insurance. The United States spends almost six times as much on administrative costs as other advanced countries. Nearly thirty cents of every $1 spent on health care goes for administrative costs.

Congress must act to reform our health care system. The issue is complex, and I certainly don't have the answers, but I will listen to all sides and work with all sides to find solutions so that all Americans have access to affordable health care and quality health care.

Rural Economic Dev.

We must reverse the 3 decades long decline of our small towns and rural America. With declining populations, small towns are losing their schools which provides the central focus and identity for a community. With no jobs, young people move to the cities to find work.

Addressing the issues of energy independence and climate change will bring some economic benefits to rural America. The oil and gas industry, wind generation, and biofuels will help the local economy and provide crop diversification for farmers.

But we must develop small scale wind energy and bio-diesel projects so that everyone can benefit from those industries. The large scale projects will benefit the large companies and the land owners who have wind generators placed on their land. But we need small scale bio-diesel plants so that local cooperatives can be formed benefitting farmers and providing jobs at the local level. Similarly, individual or city/county electric associations would provide jobs and low energy costs to attract businesses back to rural America.

Rural economic development will always be uppermost in my mind and priorities to "make a difference" for the 3rd Congressional District of Oklahoma.

Tough Issues

There are many tough issues that have not been addressed by a Congress in political gridlock for nearly a decade. These issues have been adrift in the sea of political acrimony, posturing, and spin for too long. They must be addressed and addressed now! I am ready to tackle the tough issues like social security, immigration, rebuilding and maintaining our infrastructure, and provide the support our military and our veterans so well deserve.