Bob Goodlatte: Ensuring a better America for future generations

AFP

If you’ve been watching the news lately, you’ve likely heard about the impending “fiscal cliff.” The so-called fiscal cliff is Washington-speak for significant tax increases and automatic spending cuts set to go into effect in 2013 if no other action is taken. As negotiations between Congress and the White House continue, it is clear that we cannot address the fiscal crisis and looming tax hikes without addressing the root of the problem – spending and debt.

Nicole Tichon: Free enterprise is not free

AFP

There’s been a lot of talk about what we can’t afford as a nation and who is getting what “gift” or which free ride. When President Obama recently met with CEOs and chatted with Jamie Dimon, we should hope he issued a stern warning that legal tax avoidance games played by banks and multinational corporations are on the chopping block. After all, free enterprise isn’t free.

Conservationists celebrate landmark offshore wind lease in Virginia

AFP

Conservation groups praised the Obama Administration’s announcement on Friday of a lease sale for the offshore wind energy area 23.5 miles off the coast of Virginia Beach. The Department of the Interior announced it would be conducting a competitive lease sale for the 112,800-acre area identified last February. DOI will auction the entire area as a single lease. The lease sale is an important step and is the result of cooperation among regulators, environmentalists, utilities and state lawmakers-all of whom support offshore wind energy for Virginia.

Bob Goodlatte: Fixing a badly broken ethanol policy

AFP

Common sense would tell you that if something is broken, it should be fixed. However, once again common sense has not prevailed within the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Just a few days ago, the EPA denied a waiver of the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) for this year. The EPA’s decision to deny much-needed relief to American livestock producers, food producers, and consumers was extremely disappointing. With a steep decline in corn production this year and a sharp increase in corn prices, the economic harm of the RFS is undeniable.