The legislative shale caucus is meeting today. Did they actually once elect Sen. Jason Rapert as chair? He deserves it regardless. Nobody has pandered more to the gas lobby. Yes, there are Democratic panderers, too, and they are apparently competing today to see who can show the most fealty to gas producers, the Koch brothers and other corporate interests. All, naturally, oppose a reasonable severance tax on natural gas.
Rep. Linda Tyler of Conway was a small exception to the herd mentality. She suggested that Republican Sen. Michael Lamoureux replace Rapert as caucus chair because Rapert is too partisan. No, says Rapert, Tyler is too partisan. Silly. She and Rapert are likely to face each other in November for a Senate seat. Chairmanship or no chairmanship, Rapert will be pounding the gas company drum throughout the political season. The Koch lobbyist in attendance also twittered that Tyler is in a tiny number that hasn't yet expressed a desire to draw and quarter the president for delaying the Keystone pipeline. It'll be interesting to hear what she has to say on the subject. She's not exactly known as an environmentalist.
UPDATE: Tyler explained later that she opposes the severance tax and wants the Keystone pipeline built but favored a more positive resolution on the pipeline issue that wasn't so negative. Her full statement is on the jump.
Remember these demagogues when somebody wants to put a pipeline through the middle of your sensitive watershed or aquifer. They don't give a rat's behind about your water. They serve the gas companies first. Republicans in Nebraska have demonstrated a bit more sense of civic responsibility. They've been critical in holding up the Keystone because it was originally planned — with all its potential leaks and hazardous payload — to pass through a critical aquifer.
ArkTimes.com
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