Ron Kind: “Those who are most adversely affected by the increased energy costs, whether it is in the western part of the State or…”

“Those who are most adversely affected by the increased energy costs, whether it is in the western part of the State or the eastern, are small business owners, operating on the margin and people on fixed incomes. When they see an energy blip, it has a huge impact on their family budgets. It is the farmers who are getting hit with not only increased energy costs, but also increased fertilizer costs, which is a terrible problem for them. That is why we need a comprehensive, long-term solution and not something short term that calls for more drilling, and that is going to take about a decade before we get the increased reserves to the marketplace to make a real difference.”