OPINION: Biofuels At Sea

From The Heritage Foundation, I’m Ernest Istook.

The Obama Administration wants our Navy to have a Great Green Fleet by 2016—powered totally by alternative energy.

They want to fly Navy jets with biofuel, made from algae, fat, and grease. The Navy just awarded a biofuel contract for half a million gallons. They’re paying $15 a gallon—about four times the cost of regular jet fuel. Sure, $100 a barrel oil is expensive, but the biofuel runs $630 a barrel.

In addition to charging sky-high prices, some biofuel makers also get taxpayer money from green energy grants and subsidies.

The Navy claims we need expensive alternatives because we’re running out of oil. They better check again. The latest figures show America has about 1.4-trillion barrels of recoverable oil—that’s about a 200-year supply. The problem is: our government won’t let us drill for much of it.

From The Heritage Foundation, I’m Ernest Istook.

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OPINION: Governor Tom Corbett Officially The Best Governor Money Can Buy

If you’re in Pennsylvania – and you need help from the police – you’re screwed. 

That’s because Republican Governor Tom Corbett – who already slashed $900 million out of his state’s education budget – is now targeting the police budget. According to Patriot-News, Corbett wants to cut the police department budget by 5% - essentially laying-off 500 cops. That could result in Pennsylvanians who need 9-1-1 emergency help having to wait DAYS before police can respond.

The Pennsylvania State Trooper Association President Bruce Edwards acknowledged the disastrous consequences of Corbett’s latest proposed budget cuts saying, “I don’t want to sugarcoat it. That’s what’s going to happen.”

Of course – all of this could be avoided – if only Governor Corbett made gas fracking corporations pay their fair share in taxes.  Pennsylvania is the only state in the country that doesn’t tax frackers. One reason why: Corbett got $835,000 in campaign contributions from oil and natural gas companies.

Choosing big polluters over public safety makes Governor Tom Corbett officially the best governor money can buy.

OPINION: Pipeline And Tax Dilemna

President Obama insists that Congress extend a temporary reduction in the payroll tax, also known as contributions to the Social Security Trust Fund.

The U.S. House has voted to do that. Yet Obama is talking about vetoing the bill.

The House bill also approves the Keystone Pipeline to bring 700-thousand barrels of oil each day from Canada to the U.S. Obama has sided with environmentalists who oppose the pipeline, even though it creates tens of thousands of jobs and would reduce dependence on MidEast oil. And if we don’t buy it, Canada says the oil would be sold to China.

The House bill also freezes the number of federal workers and their pay, to adjust for the reduced money going into Social Security.

So here’s the showdown. Which is more important to Obama? Avoiding a tax hike for almost everyone, or siding with environmentalists and government workers?

From The Heritage Foundation, I’m Ernest Istook.

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OPINION: Does Newt Want You Executed For Smoking Pot?

Republican Presidential front-runner Newt Gingrich doesn’t just want to throw you in jail for smoking pot – he wants to execute you! 

As Speaker of the House back in 1996 – Gingrich introduced the “Drug Importer Death Penalty Act of 1996” – a bill calling for the execution of anyone convicted more than once of carrying two ounces of marijuana across the border.

Defending the bill – Gingrich said, “I have made the decision that I love our children enough that we will kill you if you do this.”

Currently – more than half of all Americans support the legalization of marijuana – yet Gingrich is calling for the execution of those who carry it.  How out of touch can you be?

OPINION: RG3's Heisman

Too often the sports news is about legal troubles, fights, or drug problems.

So this year’s Heisman Trophy award was a breath of fresh air.

Part of it was the Cinderella story of how Robert Griffin III captured the national imagination with his incredible season, overcoming pre-season favorites who also performed well. Especially because I’m a Baylor grad I was exuberant, and because I’d seen RG3’s sensational play. But also his academic excellence and civic service showed what Griffin is made of.

But the Heisman was also noteworthy because the runners-up conducted themselves admirably despite their disappointment. Stanford’s Andrew Luck, in particular, came in second for two years straight, but handled himself with true class.

Because too much sports news is full of acrimony and scandal, RG3’s getting the Heisman was a great example of how underdogs can still succeed in America.

From The Heritage Foundation, I’m Ernest Istook.

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