March 21, 2011 01:58 PM UTC

I Want a Representative with a Living Brain Cell

• 3 Comments
• by: FrenchFinn

The more I get to know Scott Tipton, the more I think that he lost his last living brain cell long before becoming the Representative for the 3rd Congressional District. Okay, I’m probably exaggerating, but his op-ed in the Sentinel is full of crap.

The first paragraph blames the Obama administration for actively blocking natural gas development. The facts: According to Baker and Hughes, the number of rigs operating in Colorado has been on the rise. There has been a 60% increase since bottoming out in the fall of 2009. So let me get this straight, Obama is BLOCKING natural gas development, but the rig count in Colorado is increasing? How can that be?

Colorado Energy News, in a report dated January of this year, says, “Despite continued low natural gas prices and diminished economic activity, Colorado’s oil and gas industry fared better during 2010 than that in many other states, including our closest neighbors, in terms of drilling permits issued, new wells started, and active drilling rigs.” Obama is BLOCKING natural gas development, but Colorado is doing better than its neighbors? How can that be?

According to Tipton, “in 2005, the BLM issued 272 oil and gas leases in Colorado – many of which were on the Western Slope.” That is what is called spinning the numbers. See, not all oil and gas activity in Colorado is permitted by federal leases. By focusing only on federal leases, Tipton paints a picture that is bleaker than reality.  According to Colorado Energy News. “The state issued 5,996 drilling permits during 2010, making it the third busiest year for permitting in the state’s history…” 306 of those leases were in Mesa County. They go on to say, “According to the industry tracking firm Anderson Reports, 1,907 new wells were started in Colorado during 2010.  This reflects a 28% increase from 2009.” But Obama is BLOCKING natural gas development?

Tipton then makes the outrageous statement that “there is no established process for regulatory review, and agencies are essentially free to impose new regulations at whim, without the oversight of Congress and the input of the people.” Bullshit. Every proposed new regulation goes through a vetting process that involves public comment periods, unless it is imposed by congressional legislation.