WV governor's hearing on chemical tank bill excluded environmentalists

[Adenoid_Hynkel]

Source: Gazette



Two weeks ago, Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin held a news conference to announce his legislative response to the Elk River chemical leak. The governor unveiled proposed legislation aimed at creating a new regulatory program for aboveground chemical storage tanks.

...

A day earlier, a select group of business lawyers and industry lobbyists met with the governor's staff and officials from the state Department of Environmental Protection to go over the governor's bill.

...

The West Virginia Chamber of Commerce was invited. So were the Oil and Gas Association and the Coal Association. Trade associations representing grocers, manufacturers, trucking firms and energy companies were included, according to the Governor's Office.

But the chief lobbyist for the West Virginia Environmental Council -- the environmental community's umbrella lobby group at the Capitol -- said that his organization wasn't included in the governor's meeting.

Read more: http://www.wvgazette.com/News/201402040046

[Dustlawyer]

1. That's a big IN YOUR FACE to Democracy!

They just blatantly did a back room deal and came out and said, "Deal with it!"

[thatgemguy]

2. Business as usual in WV

Jay Rockefeller may be the last real Democrat to hold office in that state. A real shame he's retiring.

[theHandpuppet]

3. Especially if he gets replaced by Shelley Moore Capito

Talk about a tool for corporate corruption!

[blkmusclmachine]

4. Of course it did.

[neverforget]

5. Sweet Jesus the corporations OWN West Virginia.

Makes me want to

[sakabatou]

6. Oh god...

[Nihil]

7. He even looks like Boss Hogg (as well as acting like him).

No surprise that the scum at that meeting didn't want any dissenting voices.