Fueling debt

Kentucky politicians feel they are in debt to coal companies, which have given Kentucky politicians large amounts of money for campaigns.

Now the coal companies say it's time to return the favor.

The special legislative session called by Gov. Ernie Fletcher is nothing but a huge drain of tax dollars.

Our elected politicians are proposing to put millions and millions of dollars in the hands of the already rich coal companies by providing subsidies for an expensive and inefficient process called coal-to-liquid fuel.

The legislators should use their right to adjourn to prevent Kentucky from going down the wrong path. Let your legislators know how you feel; call the legislative message line at 800-372-7181.

Leah McQuade
Richmond

More praise for House

I was astonished at the House Democratic leadership yesterday for taking the initiative to do the right thing and adjourn the "special interest" session called by Gov. Ernie Fletcher. I was especially proud of my representative, Harry Moberly, D-Richmond, for his leadership and actions in making the legislators accountable on their previous voting records.

Although the Democrats did the right thing yesterday, they need to keep doing the right thing during the next regular session and truly investigate the proposal of coal-to-liquid. Coal is not a real alternative; it is not new, not cleaner and is the same thing we have been mining for over a hundred years …

Teri Blanton
Berea, Ky. 40403

I want to commend the Kentucky House of Representatives and the leadership of Jody Richards, D-Bowling Green, for doing the right thing Friday -- adjourning the "special interest" … session of the General Assembly.

This was an awesome showing of statesmanship to save the taxpayers $60,000 a day, for representatives to waive their salary and not succumb to politics as usual but do the actual work of the people. … I could not believe the audacity of a governor who was not even present during the regular session to call an extraordinary session

Mary Dan Easley
Burnside, Ky. 42519

'Boondoggle' rejected . . .

Thanks to the Kentucky House of Representatives for ending the expensive, needless and potentially harmful special session. Thanks for the House's rejection of the rush to fund the coal-to-liquid boondoggle.

Here's to taking the essential next step of developing a state-wide comprehensive energy plan that includes two major components: 1) enhanced energy efficiency, and 2) development and dissemination of wind, solar, hydro and other energy-generation technologies that do not degrade our environment.

Lyle B. Snider
Hazard, Ky. 41701