Chet Edwards For Congress

March 24, 2006
Keene chamber hears of gas, SIFE, Edwards' business votes

Cleburne Times Review
By Matt Smith | Staff writer

KEENE - Thursday's Keene Chamber luncheon attracted the monthly event's largest crowd in recent memory, said chamber president Janet Goodman.

The program included three speaking segments and ran longer than usual. Audience members didn't appear to mind, given the chance to hear from Southwestern Adventist University's Students In Free Enterprise team, First State Bank Texas Keene Branch President Peter Bennis and U.S. Rep. Chet Edwards, D-Waco.

SIFE is a nonprofit organization active throughout the world. It establishes student teams on university campuses to develop community-outreach programs using business skills and education.

Five members from SWAU's SIFE team presented an overview of projects they undertook during the year and will present in competition against other schools April 12.

Some of the team's projects included educating seventh-grade students on the concepts of outsourcing, teaching advertising principles to Chisholm Trail Academy seniors, initiating an annual career day at SWAU, giving a seminar on job-interviewing techniques, working with Superior Concrete Company to develop methods to improve employee morale, a Hurricane Katrina relief auction and other projects.

Bennis spoke on area oil and gas exploration. He discussed the history of exploration in the Barnett Shale, tax issues concerning royalties and the reality of declining well production rates.

“Just because you have a good well right now, know that those results are going to go down,” Bennis said. “But also, companies are constantly working on new technical means to get more gas out of the ground.”

Bennis explained how to calculate royalties on well ownership interests based on production numbers.

Edwards followed Bennis to accept the U.S. Chamber of Commerce's Spirit of Enterprise award from John Gonzales, U.S. Chamber of Commerce regional manager.

“The chamber is dedicated to supporting congressional leaders who support pro-business legislation,” Gonzales said, “and who understand that small business is the backbone of America.” Following the luncheon, Gonzales said the chamber scores what they consider to be important business legislation and those representatives and senators scoring above a 70-percent favorable rating are recognized each year.

Edwards praised the afternoon's other speakers and said SIFE should also be known as SISS, or Students In Service to Society, for its work helping children and local businesses at risk of failing.

Edwards went on to discuss his hope that politicians of both parties will work together toward a balanced budget and reduced trade deficit.

“It's time for Democrats and Republicans to get together for the good of the country,” Edwards said.

Edwards also spoke on the health care challenges facing small business owners and the need for them to be able to bargain collectively with big insurance companies for more favorable health insurance rates.

Edwards ended with the story of a taxicab driver who worked 17 years to bring his family to America.

“I still think, despite imperfections, that we still have the best democracy and country in the world,” Edwards said.