The Jobs, Energy, Families, and Disaster Relief Act of 2008, S. 3335, not only includes tax benefits important to the renewable energy industry but many non-related, costly changes to the tax code. For example, the bill changes the alternative minimum tax and provides tax deductions for tuition and tax relief for investment income, Indian employment, railroad track maintenance, motor sport racing facilities, wood arrow manufacturers, restaurant improvements, and charitable donations of book inventories. America Samoa and Puerto Rico receive special benefits, and $8 billion is given to the highway trust fund. Changes of this importance affecting the budget should be openly debated, not placed in renewable energy legislation.

We need an energy policy that will reduce the nation's reliance on fossil fuels, but Congress uses the public's concern for energy to benefit their political supporters.

Arnold W. Reitze Jr.

Salt Lake City