Upon creation of new Oil & Gas Commission 1st Commissioner appointed by Governor Perry
By Public Citizen Texas
Texas Insider Report: AUSTIN Texas The long-awaited Sunset Bill of the Texas Railroad Commission was released late yesterday and its mostly what wed expected but not everything wed hoped for. Here are the highlights:
every 4 years though were fairly certain the money will gush in all the same.
This is why we proposed public financing for this important new office but barring that at least better disclosure of who is giving the money (specifically the occupation and employer of donors) and putting a cap on how much someone can give.
Unfortunately this bill also does not offer any new guidance on regulation of fracking and natural gas drilling.
Currently fracking regulation is in somewhat of a no mans land as Railroad Commission says they do not enforce our environmental laws but TCEQ says they dont regulate the operations of drillers. While its possible some of these reforms will come from the TCEQ sunset or from separate legislation the bottom line is that we cannot allow our agencies to play hot potato with this issue.
So what does this mean that we would get one new oil and gas commissioner from three current railroad commissioners?
If passed in its current form the railroad commission would be abolished- the railroad commissioners would be out of a job. Not a big deal for those like 
Michael Williams who has said he will resign next month in order to pursue a run for Senate. Elizabeth Ames Jones has hinted she would do the same.
Upon creation of the new Oil & Gas Commission the first commissioner would be appointed by Governor Perry but s/he would only serve until 2012 when the first Oil and Gas Commissioner race in the history of Texas would take 
place. Whoever wins that race would serve for only two years then be up for re-election in 2014 and then elections would take place every four years after that.
This is many steps forward from where we began and were grateful that both the Sunset Commission staff and Committee members listened to our (the environmental & good government communitys) thoughtful proposals and adopted some of them into this reform package.
Its a testament to the power of people showing up and making their voices heard. But this is the beginning not the end.
So in the spirit of making our voices heard please remember to join us Tuesday for ACT Lobby Day. This will be an opportunity for you and us to ask for even more needed reforms both at RRC and TCEQ.
By promoting cleaner energy cleaner government & cleaner air for all Texans Public Citizen Texas hopes to provide for a healthy place to live and prosper.
By Public Citizen Texas
Texas Insider Report: AUSTIN Texas The long-awaited Sunset Bill of the Texas Railroad Commission was released late yesterday and its mostly what wed expected but not everything wed hoped for. Here are the highlights:
- The Railroad Commission will be renamed the Texas Oil and Gas Commission
- It will be headed by one commissioner (down from 3) who will be elected every four years on the same cycle as Governor Comptrollerm Ag Commissioner etc.
- Campaign finance reform: Commissioners and candidates for the commission can only raise money one year before an election and 30 days after.
- Moving contested hearings to the State Office of Administrative Hearings (SOAH).
every 4 years though were fairly certain the money will gush in all the same.
This is why we proposed public financing for this important new office but barring that at least better disclosure of who is giving the money (specifically the occupation and employer of donors) and putting a cap on how much someone can give.
Unfortunately this bill also does not offer any new guidance on regulation of fracking and natural gas drilling.
Currently fracking regulation is in somewhat of a no mans land as Railroad Commission says they do not enforce our environmental laws but TCEQ says they dont regulate the operations of drillers. While its possible some of these reforms will come from the TCEQ sunset or from separate legislation the bottom line is that we cannot allow our agencies to play hot potato with this issue.
So what does this mean that we would get one new oil and gas commissioner from three current railroad commissioners?
If passed in its current form the railroad commission would be abolished- the railroad commissioners would be out of a job. Not a big deal for those like Michael Williams who has said he will resign next month in order to pursue a run for Senate. Elizabeth Ames Jones has hinted she would do the same.
Upon creation of the new Oil & Gas Commission the first commissioner would be appointed by Governor Perry but s/he would only serve until 2012 when the first Oil and Gas Commissioner race in the history of Texas would take place. Whoever wins that race would serve for only two years then be up for re-election in 2014 and then elections would take place every four years after that.
This is many steps forward from where we began and were grateful that both the Sunset Commission staff and Committee members listened to our (the environmental & good government communitys) thoughtful proposals and adopted some of them into this reform package.
Its a testament to the power of people showing up and making their voices heard. But this is the beginning not the end.
So in the spirit of making our voices heard please remember to join us Tuesday for ACT Lobby Day. This will be an opportunity for you and us to ask for even more needed reforms both at RRC and TCEQ.
By promoting cleaner energy cleaner government & cleaner air for all Texans Public Citizen Texas hopes to provide for a healthy place to live and prosper.
