Rep. Tom Reed (R-NY)
In August of 2011, Rep. Tom Reed (R-NY) faced a town hall packed full of his constituents who opposed the controversial gas drilling process of fracking. Here’s an excerpt of a local news article at the time detailing how Reed defended the practice to his angry constituents:
Reed made no bones about his view on the subject ai??i?? heai??i??s in favor ofAi??frackingAi??the Marcellus Shale if it can be done cleanly and responsibly, which he believes it can.Ai??ai???I am a supporter of the industry, natural gas,ai??? Reed said.
His view drew ire from those in attendance.Ai??ai???Our town in Troy, Pa., is ruinedai??? because of gas drilling, one woman said. ai???I could tell you horror stories. The things we live every day … They call it Gastown now. It doesnai??i??t even have its name anymore.ai???
Reed’s constituents were enraged at his defense of fracking in their backyards. Ai??But maybe it wasn’t his constituents he was trying to appeal to. In the weeks and months following that town hall, gas lobbyists showered Reed withAi??sizableAi??donations from their political action committees (PACs):
– The National Fuel Gas Political Action Committee: This group gave Reed $2,000 on September 8th, approximately a week and a half after the town hall. This is the PAC of the National Fuel company, which not surprisingly has been operating in the Marcellus Shale area that Reed wants to expand drilling in.
– The American Gas Association Political Action Committee: This power-house D.C.-based group for gas companies and their lobbyists wrote Reed a $1,000 check exactly two weeks after the Natural Fuel Gas PAC donated to him.
– America’s Natural Gas Alliance (ANGA) Political Action Committee: This PAC gave Reed a $2,400 check on October 1st, 2011. ANGA is financed by a variety of natural gas drillers.
– Interstate Natural Gas Association of America Political Action Committee: This natural gas group gave $1,000 to Reed on November 15th, 2011.
Reed was no doubt feeling the heat from his constituents last August on this issue. But was not reported until now is that he may have had a reason to take this unpopular stand in favor of fracking. The $6,400 he received in a matter of weeks from various natural gas interests gave him an incentive to rebuke his own constituents in favor of campaign contributions.
Reed’s opponent this year, Nate Shinagawa, is one of the most able and progressive young elected officials in western New York. It’s worth getting to know more about him. What an incredible upgrade folks in the Southern Tier would get by trading Reed in for Nate!
Totally agree, Howie.
The dangers to the health of all livings from fracking is horrifying.Of course, Rep. Reed will defend fracking to gain financial contributions from the oil & gas industry at the expense and health of his constituents. Of course, any person who challenges him in an election will be massacred by lies, etc sponsored by the Kock Brfothers, Karl Rove and who knows what other slimy organizations.The greed of the oil & gas companies is boundless. They will do by any means neccessary what evr it tackes to be exempt from accountability or responsibility for their actions. Unfortunately, a major disaster will occur due to fracking with many people killed and injured and the oil & gas companies will lie or buy their way out of their responsibility or accountability. Monetary fines do NOT deter these companies, they just consider this a business cost and then pass it on to their customers.What has to happen is CEOs , Board Chairpersons, Company Presidents, must be held accountable and go to prison and do hard time in general population also, pay restitution out of their own financial porfolio and be required to be present for surgery and treatment for those and deal personally with their family members and family members of the deceased. Cruel and unusual punishment for them, I don’t thinks so!!! These companies have virtually no accountability and yet the families and their friends are the ones left with all the pain and suffering, financial loss, family destruction, possible suicides of family members, and all the untold costs to society. Plus, all the other unknown costs because of the irresponsibility, and lack of accountability of oil & gas companies.