America's natural gas companies have been fined over two-billion dollars in the last three years for manipulating natural gas markets. This clearly shows that we do not have an adequate regulatory framework over natural gas markets, and we feel there is market manipulation continuing today in the United States.

A Billion dollars isn't what it used to be

Natural gas is the future. It is here.

They have the best of breed kinds of companies in two really good industries. They have a natural gas pipeline company. In addition, a fiber optic network which will be 33,000 miles. Each have the wind at their back and we think the combined businesses conservatively are worth 60. Right now the stock trades for around 45. The company just announced a way to unlock that value with a spin-off of their Williams Communications Group. So we think it's just a matter of time before that stock reaches 60.

I am against tying the merger to the rate deal. It is not doing anything to address the underlying, systemic problems in Maryland's utility market.

Oil companies are exploiting a tight supply-demand situation. They are piling on, making a bad situation worse.