Colorado media continue to note lawmakers' opposition to new energy rules, but not their campaign donations from energy PACs

Summary: The Gazette of Colorado Springs, The Pueblo Chieftain, and the Associated Press reported in January 30 and 31 articles on a dispute between 11 state legislators and Gov. Bill Ritter's (D) administration regarding draft rules for energy producers in Colorado. However, the articles omitted that all the lawmakers who signed a letter questioning the proposed regulations have received campaign funds from energy-industry political action committees.

January 31 articles in The Gazette of Colorado Springs and The Pueblo Chieftain, as well as a January 30 Associated Press article that appeared on the websites of The Denver Post and the Rocky Mountain News, reported on the dispute between Gov. Bill Ritter's (D) administration and 11 state lawmakers over proposed regulations on oil and gas development in Colorado. But none of the reports mentioned that the legislators protesting the regulations have received campaign contributions from energy-industry political action committees (PACs), as Colorado Media Matters has pointed out.

The articles reported on January 30 testimony by Colorado Department of Natural Resources Executive Director Harris Sherman and Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission Acting Director David Neslin, both of whom defended the early draft proposal for changes to energy development rules during a House and Senate hearing. The articles also reported that some of the lawmakers who criticized the draft rules during the hearing previously had signed a letter to Ritter criticizing the proposals because of concerns that the new rules would too heavily burden oil and gas development in the state.

From the January 31 article by Michael Davidson in The Gazette of Colorado Springs, "$1 million fund created to boost solar power":

Nine Republicans and two Democrats from both houses sent a letter to Ritter's office Tuesday complaining that new rules being drafted to regulate the oil and gas industry would be too cumbersome and discourage companies from drilling new wells.

The revisions are being made to comply with two laws passed last year that require energy companies to consider the effect new projects have on the environment, wildlife and public health.

One of the laws was sponsored by Sen. Jim Isgar, D-Hesperus. He signed onto the letter because he's concerned the new regulations may create too much bureaucracy.

"We don't want to over-regulate to the point that someone who owns that resource can't get it developed," Isgar said.

From the January 31 article by Charles Ashby in The Pueblo Chieftain, "Conservative lawmakers eye proposed drilling regs":

Led by Sens. Jim Isgar, D-Hesperus, and Josh Penry, R-Fruita, the lawmakers sent a strongly worded letter to Gov. Bill Ritter on Tuesday questioning that direction, saying they fear the new rules would place an undue hardship on the industry's ability to produce oil and gas.

Mandated by two state laws approved by last year's Legislature, the commission plans this spring to review new rules that not only govern how wells can be drilled, but how they must mitigate whatever impact they have on the surface.

Other lawmakers who signed onto the letter, including Reps. Wes McKinley, D-Walsh, and Cory Gardner, R-Yuma, said they wanted to remind Sherman and Neslin that the oil and gas industry in Colorado generates about $23 billion a year in economic development in the state and creates about 70,000 jobs here.

From the January 30 Associated Press article by Steven K. Paulson, "Oil and gas regulators say proposed rules are reasonable":

Wednesday's meeting came after Republican and Democratic lawmakers sent Gov. Bill Ritter a strongly worded letter saying that proposed regulations for oil and gas production are "unacceptable" and would cripple the industry, which brings in $23 billion a year and employs 70,000 people in Colorado.

None of the articles mentioned that each of the signers of the letter had received campaign contributions from energy industry political action committees (PACs), and that "six of the 11 letter signers received a total of $8,200 from energy industry donors and political committees last year," as the Daily Sentinel of Grand Junction reported on January 29. The Daily Sentinel further reported:

According to state campaign finance filings, six of the 11 letter signers received a total of $8,200 from energy industry donors and political committees last year.

Gardner and Rep. Frank McNulty, R-Highlands Ranch, accounted for the lion's share of the contributions, taking in $2,500 each. Penry pocketed $1,400 from energy industry donors, lobbyists and political organizations.

In contrast, three Western Slope lawmakers who did not sign the letter -- Reps. Bernie Buescher, D-Grand Junction, Kathleen Curry, D-Gunnison, and Ray Rose, R-Montrose -- received a total of $400 from energy industry-related political committees, lobbyists and donors.

Rep. Al White, R-Hayden, who also did not sign the letter, received $1,850 in energy-connected contributions last year.

Carrie Doyle, executive director of Colorado Conservation Voters, said the oil and gas industry's support of those public officials protesting the rule-making process makes the letter questionable.

"It's a profitable industry. They make generous political contributions," Doyle said. "It's not a surprise that elected officials who received a lot of oil and gas industry support are crying foul before this process has had a chance to get going."

McNulty, however, bristled at Doyle's suggestion, calling it the typical politics you see "anytime the radical environmentalists find themselves in a box." [emphasis added]

As Colorado Media Matters noted, according to a search of the Colorado Secretary of State's campaign finance database, each of the legislators who signed the letter had received campaign contributions from energy industry PACs.

—C.H.