I hope more people talk.

Below is the first in what I hope to be a number of posts from a friend on Capitol Hill with connections in the lobbying world, LetsTalk.

You can learn so much from simple conversations. As I learn, I will share.

Yesterday I had a discussion with Jeanette Moll, candidate for Congress from Ohio District 18. I was glad to learn that OH-18, with its large coal production, voted 53% for McCain last year and is incensed at Ohio Congressman Zach Space (D) for voting for the Cap and Trade/Tax bill that passed the US House of Representatives three weeks ago.

This energy tax bill does nothing for the environment, but gives handouts to special interests and simply raises energy costs on every American. The Heritage Foundation lays out the numbers here.

Fortunately, Majority Leader Senator Reid (D-NV) is likely to not even bring it up in the Senate because of the outrage from both sides of the aisle in America.

This vote is not the first time Space has been linked to special interests. The Columbus Dispatch recently reported the Congressman to have over $800,000 in the bank. This cash did not come from OH-18. Democrats are taking money from whomever they can to stay in power, yet are rarely listening to large representative organizations. More on this later.

As an Ohioan, it's my hope OH-18 will have ample opportunity to learn from Jeannette Moll about Rep. Space's handouts to special interests and his vote to tax each family living in his district. Jobs are scarce enough in Ohio. Why do we need to get hit harder?

I hope more people talk.