US Rep Tom Perriello, D-Virginia, gets an earful about health care reform at Fluvanna Co. town hall

When Perriello tried to answer a question about his support of the cap-and-trade legislation, he was drowned out by chants of “Drill, Drill, Drill!“

YouTube - TCK TCK TCK - It's Time to Act on Climate Change

[The narrator actually says "Be in no doubt, this is the biggest threat humankind has ever faced"]

Ag Sec. Tom Vilsack continues Rural Tour

There were two questions about cap-and-trade legislation. The first questioner wanted to know what effect cap-and-trade legislation would have on an energy-intensive industry like agriculture and the second wanted to know what role the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) would play in determining offsets in a cap-and-trade system.

Referring to the bill that was passed by the House of Representatives, Vilsack said the fertilizer industry would receive some assistance and benefits in the early years of the process. In the first 7 to 10 years of this effort there should not be any increase in the cost of fertilizer because of the benefits that industry will get from the bill, according to Vilsack.

"On the energy side, I don't think there is any doubt that there will be an increase; the question is whether or not there will be an offsetting income opportunity that will be equal to or greater than the new energy costs," Vilsack said. "Livestock producers will find more opportunities than they think."