Gary Johnson moderates view on cap and trade

Gary Johnson is not just the latest Republican to jump into the presidential race. He's also a self described "avid skier". So when I heard about Johnson's plan to ski Mount Washington's Tuckerman Ravine, I figured it would be a good opportunity to make him aware of threat global warming poses to New Hampshire's ski industry.

I posted a story on Gather.com highlighting the fact that a number of local ski mountains have signed on to letters urging Congress to pass federal cap and trade legislation. You can imagine my surprise when Johnson shared a link to the story on his official Facebook page. I guess the man listens to voters!

Now Johnson is showing his independence from the Republican Party establishment by opening the doors to real bipartisan conversation on cap and trade.

"I don't believe in cap and trade," he said in a video posted on his Our America Initiative just two weeks ago.

The video has since been removed and replaced with more conciliatory language:

"The Initiative does not support 'cap and trade' policies as they are currently formulated."

It's certainly not a total about face, but it shows Johnson is willing to engage in an open minded conversation about the issue. In this day and age, that's something every voter should look for in a candidate.

2012 Hopeful Gary Johnson to Ski Tuckerman Ravine (Video)

Last week, I posted a piece about former New Mexico Governor Gary Johnson's plan to ski Mount Washington's Tuckerman Ravine in April:

2012 Hopeful Gary Johnson to Ski Tuckerman Ravine

Johnson has shared a link to the story on Facebook, along with the following comment:

At the end of this month I'll be skiing Tuckerman Ravine in New Hampshire for the first time. As many of you know I am an avid skier and I'm really looking forward to the challenge!

He may be an avid skier, but Johnson does not see eye to eye with a number of local ski mountains on the issue of climate change, as noted in my article for Gather.com. In 2008, Cranmore Mountain, Gunstock Mountain, Loon Mountain, and Waterville Valley signed onto a letter urging Congress to pass bipartisan cap and trade legislation.

"I don't believe in cap and trade," Johnson states in this video: