Columns
Jun
4
2010
U.S. News & World Report
Most presidents since the 1980s have supported or even strengthened a national moratorium on offshore oil drilling.
They rightly concluded that jeopardizing our nation’s coastal economies and fragile environments to expand drilling where there is only three percent of the world’s oil supply makes no sense...
May
12
2010
USA Today
"For a successful technology, reality must take precedence over public relations, for nature cannot be fooled."
That's what Nobel Prize-winning physicist Richard Feynman said in 1986. Judging by recent events, it's more true today than ever.
The failure of the Deepwater Horizon test well in the Gulf of...
Mar
12
2010
The Hill
Without a champion in President Dwight Eisenhower, America might never have built the Interstate highway system. And even though today some parts of the system sometimes look more like a mall parking lot on Christmas Eve, where would we be without the 46,876 miles of super highway?
Eisenhower’s idea for the...
Feb
7
2010
Tampa Tribune
Special to the Tribune
In his 1986 Challenger address to a mourning nation, President Ronald Reagan noted that we as Americans are accustomed to wonders.
In his words, "It's hard to dazzle us."
That certainly was true then, and it's true now. Even still, one thing always seems to amaze us - and has done for...
Jan
15
2010
CNN
(CNN) -- The catastrophic earthquake that devastated Haiti has left millions of our neighbors in dire need of food, shelter and medical care. Haitians are a resilient and proud people, but this tragedy would leave even the strongest of nations decimated.
Even before the shattering 7.0 quake, Haiti ranked as...
Sep
29
2009
USA Today
The debate over Medicare Advantage misses a key point. It's not so much the extras, such as gym memberships, vision and dental care, that drew more than 10 million seniors to the plans. It's the affordable deductibles, co-pays and other such out-of-pocket expenses.
Traditional Medicare is an outstanding and...
Sep
11
2009
Letter to the Editor of the St. Petersburg Times
You were right to commend President Barack Obama for providing some clear answers in his speech Wednesday night about his views on health care reform — and, to call on Congress to get back to work on the issue.
I found it interesting that what the president described is pretty close to the draft of a bill I'...
Aug
5
2009
Washington Post
We refuse to let partisanship kill health reform -- and we are proof that it doesn't have to.
As 12 U.S. senators from both sides of the aisle who have widely varying philosophies, we offer a concrete demonstration that it is possible to find common ground and pass real health reform this year. The process...
May
10
2009
Florida Today
The United States was born because human beings are driven to explore the world around them.Christopher Columbus’ expedition discovered the Americas.President Jefferson dispatched Lewis and Clark on a dangerous expedition to search for a northwest passage to the Pacific.And 40 years ago this July, an...
Jun
26
2008
Orlando Sentinel
The nation’s space program traditionally has been something that had widespread, bipartisan support. Issues in that realm were dealt with on their merit, based on their technical feasibility and scientific value. And rightly so. For our space program doesn’t just keep our country ahead in technology and...