The man at the microphone stood up to his congressman and his Koch Brothers backers.

Lobbyists for big natural gas companies and drillers have been leaning on Washington to support the controversial and dangerous process of fracking.

Last week, one of Rep. Dan Lungren’s (R-CA) constituents confronted him at a town hall about his support for fracking and the over $100,000 of oil money his campaigns have received from the oil industry:

CONSTITUENT: You implied later that [earlier] evening that you support research into alternative energy sources. One that we hear brought about is natural gas, which is obtained by a process known as fracking, or hydraulic fracking. This process of drilling has actually caused earthquakes in Ohio and it has polluted rivers and it has polluted sources of drinking water for humans so that it’s not for drinking for humans or animals. And in 2005 you voted for an exemption in the Clean Water Act which would allow this process to go unchecked. You’ve been an avid supporter of deregulation of Big Oil as well as the beneficiary of $173,000 from Big Oil and Big Gas according to Oil Change International [light audience applause]. So why did you vote against the law that would inform citizens if there are dangerous toxic chemicals released into their neighborhoods or their workplace. How can we trust you to protect our environment and to protect our public health with this track record? [raucous audience applause].

Following the constituent’s question, Lungren replied, “There is no scientific evidence whatsoever that any earthquakes were caused by fracking,” provoking laughter and cries of “No!” from the audience.

Watch the exchange between Lungren and his constituent:

 

Following the question and answer session, an independent filmmaker asked the constituent about his query. “[Lungren] has spent a 30 year career basically supporting big oil companies, energy companies, not supporting the environment,” said the constituent. “It sounds like all he cares about is the corporate bottom line…not the stuff that’s, you know for the public health of people.”

This election cycle, Lungren received a whopping $10,000 from Koch Industries’ Political Action Committee — the PAC run by the right-wing billionaires the Koch Brothers. The Kochs have been rapidly expanding their business into fracking, and haveAi??funneledAi??money into organizations like the Heartland Institute and American Legislative Exchange Council that promote this dangerous process.