Bryan-College Station Eagle Endorses Dale Henry
The Bryan-College Station Eagle has endorsed Dale Henry in the race for Texas Railroad Commission:
Like many Texans, some of the candidates in this race have a basic misunderstanding about the functions of the Railroad Commission, which, despite its name, does not regulate railroads in Texas. Instead, the three-member commission regulates the oil and gas industry and is in charging of ensuring that the pipelines that carry petroleum products are safe — a job it has not done particularly well in recent years. It also has some environmental responsibility for the oil wells it authorizes. And, despite what Thompson, an advocate for the blind, says, it does have a say in the natural gas rates charged Texans since it must approve cost-of-service rate increases sought by the natural gas industry. In fact, commissioners recently approved rate increases greater than what their staff recommended.
Henry, 75, has run for the Railroad Commission twice before, once as a Republican and then as a Democrat. He is the only candidate in the race — and would be the only one on the commission — with a lifetime of experience working in the oil fields. He knows how to drill an oil well properly, and when the time comes, how to plug in correctly so that it doesn’t endanger the environment in the years to come.
Both Hall and Henry correctly say the commission must do more to protect ground water from oil wells drilled through it. While Hall can address the issue in theory, Henry has done it in practice. Henry isn’t the most polished candidate in the race, but commissioners don’t need designer suits and expensive shoes to do their job well.
The Eagle recommends a vote for Dale Henry for Railroad Commission in the Democratic Primary.
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While beneficial to the Texas economy, the oil and gas industry, if left unchecked, poses a significant danger to our environment.
Read about how Dale Henry will make protecting the environment his number one priority.
Endorsements:
