The hypocrisy of the Senate Majority Coalition was on full display today as Senators who continually refuse a fracking moratorium vote based on their “trust” of the Department of Environmental Conservation’s (DEC) regulatory process, unveiled a so-called “regulatory reform” package under the guise that expert agency staff cannot be trusted, and responsibility for state operations should rest with the Senate.

For Immediate Release: June 10, 2013
Travis Proulx: [email protected] or 518-462-5526 x236

Senate’s Extreme Regulatory Plan Highlights Fracking Hypocrisy

Albany—The hypocrisy of the Senate Majority Coalition was on full display today as Senators who continually refuse a fracking moratorium vote based on their “trust” of the Department of Environmental Conservation’s (DEC) regulatory process, unveiled a so-called “regulatory reform” package under the guise that expert agency staff cannot be trusted, and responsibility for state operations should rest with the Senate.

The following statement is attributable to Executive Director Dave Gahl:

“Senate Coalition leadership has blocked a fracking moratorium vote because they say government agencies should be trusted to complete regulations on their own. Yet here they stand attacking the same experts as being untrustworthy. This is political hyperbole and hypocrisy at its worst.

Where do Senators Klein, Skelos and Libous really stand? How do they reconcile speaking out of both sides of their mouths when it comes to fracking regulations? And how can they guarantee that clean water protections won’t end up on the chopping block?

Viewing all state operations solely through the lens of economic development is offensive to every New Yorker who benefits from living and doing business in a state with clear air and clean water. Need I remind Senators that many of the regulations they want to roll back are not the result of a mischievous regulatory elf lurking the halls of state government, but most often the direct work of their own legislative activity?

Senate leadership needs to sort out where they stand before issuing meaningless plans that further erode the public’s trust. They can start the long road to recovery by allowing an up or down fracking moratorium vote and not attempting to bargain away thousands of protections to our environment and public health.”

###