The $4 Million Freedom Prize- Politico.com Feature

Freedom Prize Featured in Politico

For all you hardened Washington insiders out there who think it takes an army of lobbyists and consultants to get something done in this town, well, you’re usually right. But today a couple of business guys showed that a good idea and some shoe leather salesmanship can work just as well.

Three years ago, two executives, Jack Hidary and Josh Becker, came to Washington to lobby Congress to fund a cash prize that would reward efforts to reduce the nation’s dependence on foreign oil. And the Energy Policy Act of 2005 was just days away from congressional completion.