OK -

Peterson isn't my representative, but I am a Minnesotan and I tried to send him an email voicing my displeasure.  

What displeased me even more is the fact that, unless you actually live in his district, he's not a bit interested in hearing from you.  Here's what's on the contact page of his website...

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I am very interested in hearing your views on issues of importance to you. Due to the large volume of US Mail, email and faxes I receive, I am only able to accept messages from residents of the Seventh Congressional District of Minnesota. Congressional courtesy dictates that Representatives be given the opportunity to assist their own constituents. If you are a resident of another district, I encourage you to contact your Representative in Congress by clicking the following link to the Write Your Representative Service.
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I think it's interesting that Collin would be the chair of an important committee that has far-reaching impact and not think that anyone outside his district should be able to voice their opinion...  Seems a little sad to me - 'I care about your opinion as long as you're someone that might vote for me.'

My representative is Jim Ramstad and he's got his email fully accessible on his website ...  

I did, in fact, find an email address that is supposedly Collin's at http://www.vote-usa.org/ElectedOfficials.aspx?State=U3 and I did email him, but I don't really know if it got there ....

Great posting, Aimee. According to Plant Ark, some of the motivation to cut spending on the CSP is to find money to support ethanol.

"We're looking around the neighborhood of US$5 billion in that area," said Peterson, Minnesota Democrat. The chairman of the subcommittee that oversees biofuels, Democrat Tim Holden of Pennsylvania, said he aimed for "a robust multibillion-dollar" program to develop new feedstocks for ethanol and build the refineries to use them.