A top Senate Republican says he will fight to keep a potential moratorium on hydraulic fracturing from getting a vote.
Senate Deputy Majority Leader Thomas Libous, R-Binghamton, said his goal is to “make sure no (moratorium) bill passes the Senate.” Libous, a staunch fracking supporter whose district sits within the gas-rich Marcellus Shale formation, said he doesn’t want to see it on the Senate floor for a vote.
“I’m going to try to make sure that it doesn’t,” he said Thursday. “I feel that strongly on that issue.”
Libous’ comments came a day after the state Assembly passed a bill that would prohibit drilling in the Marcellus and Utica shale formations until May 15, 2015. On Tuesday, Sen. David Carlucci, D-Clarkstown, Rockland County, introduced a similar but separate bill in the Senate. Carlucci is a member of the Independent Democratic Conference, which shares control of the chamber with the GOP.
Opponents of fracking—who say the technique could cause irreparable environmental harm—are hoping the IDC may be able to get a vote on a moratorium, while supporters—who point to gas drilling’s economic and energy benefits—will be leaning on the GOP.
Carlucci on Thursday said his bill would ensure a decision on fracking isn’t made on an “arbitrary timetable.” His legislation would tie a moratorium to the completion of two outside studies of shale-gas drilling’s impacts: one from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the other from Geisinger Health System.
“I can appreciate my colleague’s concerns,” Carlucci said of Libous’ comments. “I think the important thing is we need to put New Yorkers’ health first and I think the prudent thing to do would be to wait for these studies to be done, get the science on the table and get all the data possible.”
In the meantime, high-volume hydrofracking remains on hold in New York as Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s administration continues a review of its potential health impacts. New York’s review was first launched in 2008, and Cuomo has yet to make a decision on large-scale fracking since inheriting the issue when he took office in 2011.
“I’m going to lobby my colleagues in the IDC. I’m going to lobby my Republican colleagues,” Libous said. “Let the (Department of Environmental Conservation) and Health Department give the governor a recommendation and then we’ll either move forward or we won’t.”
(AP file photo)
7 Comments
Of course, Libous feels strongly about the issue. He received nearly $200,000 from gassers toward his last election.
A lot of us feel strongly about the issue as well and without Libous’ financial incentives. We just want clean water, clean air, food that is safe, and the ability to enjoy the beautiful area we live in.
“I’m going to lobby my colleagues in the IDC. I’m going to lobby my Republican colleagues,” Libous said. “Let the (Department of Environmental Conservation) and Health Department give the governor a recommendation and then we’ll either move forward or we won’t.” Dear Senator Libous,
have you heard or seen anything of the 200,000 comments or the 80,000 comments before that , that New Yorkers sent with great concerns about the quality or our air and water regarding fracking? Or is it your pocketbook that is talking?
I live in Senator Libous’s district. He has many constituents who want a moratorium or ban in place. His own constituent polling has shown that voters in his district do not think the DEC’s proposals are adequate to protect us.
While Senator Libous may speak out about his support for HVHF, I don’t think that he should block his colleagues from voting as they see fit on the bill. He must realize that his side would lose the vote and so is continuing his tactic of blocking any vote on the issue from taking place. This is anti-democratic and not the way our system should work.
Joanne is exactly right. Libous doesn’t want a vote because he knows he – and the out-of-state corporations – will lose it.
It’s TIME FOR A VOTE, NYS Senate! It’s why we pay you the big bucks.
Special props to Speaker Sheldon Silver for mentioning the concern that fracking will exacerbate climate change, in his justification for the Assembly’s moratorium.
It is appalling that a State Senator would fight to DENY a vote on anything! That is what democracy is supposed to be about! The citizens of this state deserve an up or down vote as it is the only way to move forward on this difficult issue. The fact that Republican Libous took $190,700 in campaign contributions in 2012 from fracking-related industries (http://j.mp/15AG1uq) makes his motives especially plain to see.
Make democracy work the way it was intended. Citizens speak. Elected legislators listen. Assembly/Senate vote. and …. I don’t care what Citizens United (Sham) says – corporations are not people!
booo libous! obstruction of democracy is what we see in his actions.
Oh, boo hoo! Holding up votes is part of the legislative process and happens all the time. As to the notion that many in Sen. Libous’ district was a moratorium, there are at least as many that do not – witness the elections in November where many, if not ALL the anti-gas candidates failed. The point is, this issue has been studied by the DEC for YEARS, and the legislature – especially the democratic majority in the Assembly -doesn’t care as much for your health as it does for covering for Andy Boy so he can avoid making a decision on this issue (which he’s waffled on for months) and have a better shot at running for president. Not that his tenure at HUD which lead to the housing bubble and indirectly to the financial meltdown, his waffling on this issue (even the press has taken to calling him “Hamlet on the Shale”), and his ugly divorce won’t have a negative impact on his chances..