Education is critical not only to each one of us individually, but also to build the economic vitality of our state.

Nowadays, business is all about productivity - and our folks produce.

Our Keystone legislation received strong bipartisan support in the Senate. Although it didn't receive the 60 votes necessary for passage, 56 senators - a majority - voted in favor of the bill. Despite President Obama's actively lobbying against the bill, we still won the support of 11 Democrats.

You don't get an economy growing by raising taxes.

The Keystone XL project has built strong safety measures into its design with the newest technology. Additionally, 80 percent of the new Canadian oil sands are being developed 'in situ,' meaning, it has a similar carbon footprint and emissions as conventional oil wells.

The reality is that nearly 80 percent of the world's purchasing power lies outside the United States, and if we don't tap those markets, others will.

Pipelines are by far the safest way to transport petroleum. They are safer than tankers, safer than trucks, safer than rail.