By Mitt Romney

The goal of my energy policy is straightforward: guarantee America the most affordable and reliable supply in the world. Ohio is seeing firsthand the potential of this approach in the Marcellus Shale. The natural-gas revolution is creating direct jobs in construction and drilling, and producing a resurgence in American manufacturing. In the next couple of years, billions of dollars will be invested in the state in pursuit of these opportunities.

President Barack Obama has a different goal: higher prices, lower production and a government-led “green” industry. Ohio is seeing the effects of this approach, as well. The average family’s energy bill has jumped by thousands of dollars during his presidency. Gasoline-price increases, alone, have cost the middle class as much as would doubling the income-tax rate.

Humans are strange, thrill-seeking creatures. We crave not just a thrill, but something so terrifying that we think, if only for a moment, that we might not actually survive. For those of us not ready for base jumping in wing suits, roller coasters can fulfill that excitement lust. And the amusement park fixtures may never have existed if not for something decidedly unthrilling (though important!): coal mining.

The Friends of Coal is once again joining with the West Virginia Radio Corporation and MetroNews to sponsor the WV Scholars Program. Friends of Coal will be the title sponsor of the scholarship program.  The program is a full, four-year scholarship covering the cost of tuition, fees, room and board at West Virginia Wesleyan College. Valued at $125,000, the scholarship will be awarded to one lucky student from West Virginia who is currently a member of the junior class in high school.

You can apply for the scholarship by going towww.wvmetronews.com and click on the “Apply Now Button” for the complete program details.

Wednesday, February 28^th, was “crossover day” in the Legislature, meaning that all bills had to be passed out of their house of origin or they would not be considered this Session. This year’s Regular Session will end next Saturday evening at midnight with the budget session to continue through the next week.

In the Senate:

As of 4:00 p.m., Wednesday, February 29, 2012, the 50th day of the 80th Legislature’s 2nd Regular Session, 174 bills had passed the Senate and will move on to the House for further consideration.

In the House:

As of 4:00 p.m., Wednesday, February 29, 2012, the 50th day of the 80th Legislature’s 2nd Regular Session, 1,348 bills had been introduced in the House. Of those, 120 have passed the House and have moved on to the Senate for further consideration.

Coach Huggins called and asked if the Friends of Coal would help make him and West Virginia the “BEST”!  By going to this site --- www.espn.com/infiniti/ ---and voting, once a day for the next 7 days, we can help Coach Bob “Huggie Bear” Huggins win $100,000.00 for his favorite charity which is the Norma Mae Huggins Fund, a cancer research endowment at WVU, dedicated to Coach Huggins’ mother.

He’s in the “final four” and as of last night, Coach Huggins had passed the Ohio State coach by 2% and was behind the BYU coach by 1%. Please help put our Mountaineer Coach over the top and show the nation we can support our own better than any other State. It will bring great positive attention to all of us here in West Virginia.

All you have to do is log in to --- www.espn.com/infiniti/ ----- After you vote, you will be asked to register with a name and selected password. Thanks for helping.