Texas Republicans move to crush local liberty

[ksen]

Denton’s ban won’t stop fracking permits, Railroad Commission chairwoman says

Despite Denton’s vote to prohibit fracking, the state Railroad Commission plans to continue giving permits to companies wanting to drill there, the agency’s chairwoman said Thursday.

Christi Craddick, a Republican, said she was disappointed that voters adopted the ban on hydraulic fracturing — a technique of drilling deep into the ground to release oil and gas.

But she took a confrontational swing in response: “I believe it's my job to give permits, not Denton’s. ... We’re going to continue permitting up there because that’s my job.”

. . .

Also, GOP legislators already are considering bills to make such bans illegal.

Nothing says "Liberty" like a State bureaucrat saying she is going to just ignore local ordinances.

 

[Trausti]

If the state constitution and statutes vest such decisions to the Railroad Commission, a local vote is nothing more than an advisory opinion.

 

[ksen]

I think Ms. Craddick may be mistaken when she says her job is to "give out permits."

I'm pretty sure her job is to evaluate whether or not to give out permits, not just hand them out like candy.

 

[funinspace]

I think Ms. Craddick may be mistaken when she says her job is to "give out permits."

I'm pretty sure her job is to evaluate whether or not to give out permits, not just hand them out like candy.

Uhm...I think you are confused, this is Texas. Now, if it were the local welfare office, then of course things would have to be carefully evaluated, cuz we wouldn't want them lazy people getting free candy.

 

[Jimmy Higgins]

The authority to make these decisions will vary by state. In Ohio, a local city wanted to block a fracking well located near the wells for a water plant, but the ODNR is in charge and the city has little say.

 

[dismal]

Denton’s ban won’t stop fracking permits, Railroad Commission chairwoman says

Despite Denton’s vote to prohibit fracking, the state Railroad Commission plans to continue giving permits to companies wanting to drill there, the agency’s chairwoman said Thursday.

Christi Craddick, a Republican, said she was disappointed that voters adopted the ban on hydraulic fracturing — a technique of drilling deep into the ground to release oil and gas.

But she took a confrontational swing in response: “I believe it's my job to give permits, not Denton’s. ... We’re going to continue permitting up there because that’s my job.”

. . .

Also, GOP legislators already are considering bills to make such bans illegal.

Nothing says "Liberty" like a State bureaucrat saying she is going to just ignore local ordinances.

Hint: when you're invoking liberty to support a ban on an individual voluntarily doing something you're probably doing it wrong.

 

[ksen]

I didn't realize fracking was an individualistic endeavor.

I also didn't realize that the State dictating to localities was a libertarian principle.

 

[marc]

Of course Liberty^tm is only meant to apply to corporate entities. They are people too, and as such have rights. More rights than those lazy little 'citizens'.

If a corporation can't go where they want, and do whatever they want, including ignoring the desires of the people that actually live on the land, then there is no Liberty^tm

 

[Valjean]

And Americans still think they live in a representational democracy...

It takes a lot of money to buy and maintain a political position. Where do you think these corporate lap dogs get it?

 

[dismal]

I didn't realize fracking was an individualistic endeavor.

I also didn't realize that the State dictating to localities was a libertarian principle.

I had a house where I leased my land to an oil and gas company. Obviously, if someone had banned me or the oil company from doing that I could not have.

- - - Updated - - -

Of course Liberty^tm is only meant to apply to corporate entities. They are people too, and as such have rights. More rights than those lazy little 'citizens'.

If a corporation can't go where they want, and do whatever they want, including ignoring the desires of the people that actually live on the land, then there is no Liberty^tm

They can't go wherever they want. They have to lease the rights from the person who owns them before they go anywhere.

 

[ksen]

They can't go wherever they want.

As long as Christi Craddick is in charge apparently they can.

 

[Jimmy Higgins]

I had a house where I leased my land to an oil and gas company. Obviously, if someone had banned me or the oil company from doing that I could not have.

You do realize the difference between someone being allowed to lease their land rights verses zoning right? No one will lease your rights unless they can dig a well first.

 

[dismal]

They can't go wherever they want.

As long as Christi Craddick is in charge apparently they can.

Or, you could be wildly mistaken because you are clueless about what it takes to drill a well and/or didn't bother to read my last post.

My money is on the mistaken thing.

 

[ksen]

Oh, you have examples of Craddick refusing to grant permits when they've been requested?

 

[dismal]

I had a house where I leased my land to an oil and gas company. Obviously, if someone had banned me or the oil company from doing that I could not have.

You do realize the difference between someone being allowed to lease their land rights verses zoning right? No one will lease your rights unless they can dig a well first.

I don't understand your arranging of words.

Where I think we can agree is that it's true that people will not lease my land to drill on it if they have been banned from drilling a desirable well on it. The leasing of my land is necessary for them to drill on it, but not sufficient.

- - - Updated - - -

Oh, you have examples of Craddick refusing to grant permits when they've been requested?

wat

 

[bleubird]

Jesus fucking christ!Over 200 wells already and they need more?Give it a rest.And,what is the price of nat gas right now?Where is all the water needed coming from?Where does all the fracking fluid go?

 

[Valjean]

The well doesn't need to be anywhere near a particular plot of land to cause problems there. Once an oil rich layer is penetrated the drilling continues horizontally.
Property ownership doesn't necessarily include mineral rights. You don't own or control the land under your property.

 

[Togo]

I had a house where I leased my land to an oil and gas company. Obviously, if someone had banned me or the oil company from doing that I could not have.

I like growing vegetables in my garden, near my house. If someone is running a fracking operation next door, it forces impurities in to my soil, and potentially destabilises my house. I'm not at liberty to enjoy my property.

Are you arguing that your right to use your property is greater than my right to use mine?

 

[aeebee50]

I am waiting for the taxed to go up to fix the roads.

 

[Nice Squirrel]

I had a house where I leased my land to an oil and gas company. Obviously, if someone had banned me or the oil company from doing that I could not have.

Did you live in that house? And how much land are we talking about?