In my uphill campaign against Republican incumbent Cynthia Lummis for Wyoming’s seat in the U.S. House of Representatives, I am impressed and energized by the growing signs of support I see as I campaign around the state. My recent speaking tour brought positive news coverage of my stance on clean coal (Wendt has high hopes for coal, Gillette News-Record, 9/28/2010) and widespread publication of my sharp attack on Lummis’ membership in the House "Tea Party Caucus."
I am a straight shooter. In appearances and radio talk shows in Jackson, Cody, Gillette, Cheyenne and Laramie, I warned audiences that Wyoming’s position as the nation’s number one coal-producing state depends on industry decisions to adopt emerging technologies that reduce carbon emissions.
Whereas Rep. Lummis claims that Obama’s "war on coal" will drive Wyoming out of the coal business, I predict exactly the opposite: As soon as possible we will need national clean energy legislation as well as research and development by industry to provide the know-how, market certainty and incentives to meet the growing demand for cleaner burning coal.
My opponent does not understand these realities. Without modernization, the coal industry won’t be able to compete with cleaner power sources in the 21st century. According to the director of the University of Wyoming’s School of Energy Resources, 60 new coal-fired power stations have already been cancelled in the past 2 years.
I lashed out at Rep. Lummis’ membership in the House Tea Party caucus in an Op-Ed piece published last Sunday (Wyoming already has its Tea Party candidate, Casper Star Tribune, 9/26/2010). "Do we really want to marginalize our state by sending back . . . a member of this extremist caucus?"
I am a strong environmental advocate. I see Lummis as a naysayer. For example, on issues near and dear to Wyoming, like keeping the Wyoming Range off limits to drilling, she has distanced herself from even her traditional conservative colleagues by opposing this cherished legacy.
I am challenging Lummis for peddling the old myth of supply-side economics and for giving lip-service to the free market. While the federal government wallows in red ink, the private sector is rolling in cash. I say, let’s bring business and government together to reduce the deficit and make the win-win investments in energy, education, and other areas that our state needs to create jobs and safeguard our future. I know how to build these public-private sector partnerships.
As I said in the Op-Ed piece, let’s not let the Tea Party sucker punch us here in Wyoming with their rhetoric. Let’s not send back to Washington a proponent of their discredited ideas, repackaged in patriotic language.
Coming weeks will feature candidate forums across the state and press conferences showcasing endorsements from prominent political leaders in the state. My opponent may not show up for these candidate forums. However, I look forward to debating with her these and other important issues on Wyoming public television on Monday, September 25.