From today's Midland Reporter-Telegram:

You shouldn't try to legislate on oil and gas until you pass Energy 101, says U.S. Rep. Mike Conaway, R-Midland.

That's why he and one of the few other knowledgeable congressmen held a beginners' class last week and plan more Tuesday and Thursday in Minority Leader Roy Blunt's conference room.

Joining Arizona Rep. Trent Franks, Conaway told 28 neophyte Republicans about leasing and other pre-drilling work, drilling, producing, regulations and supply on July 15.

"You're giving them a drink out of a fire hose," he said. "But they're more interested now that they're getting beaten to death at home, trying to understand what's causing $4 gasoline and what the remedies might be.

"There are a lot of misconceptions -- like oil is a liquid pool and you can go anywhere and find it. Those are rampant in Washington."

With energy being on the nation's front burner this summer, it's extremely important that knowledgeable individuals help those who make this nation's energy policy understand - at the very least - the basics of that which they are seeking to legislate. Rep. Conaway is doing his part; hopefully, the entirety of the Congress is listening.