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Texan’s First

It’s time for Texans to come first again.

For the past two decades, the Texas Railroad Commission has essentially been bought and paid for by the oil interests it regulates. The current Railroad Commissioners have received millions of dollars in contributions from major oil and petrochemical companies and, in turn, rubber stamp any request they make. It’s time for a Railroad Commissioner that puts Texans first.

Dale Henry will put Texans, not the oil companies, first. With public safety and protecting our environment as his number one priorities, Dale believes that Texans need a Railroad Commissioner who will look out for the people’s interest and not serve as a rubber stamp for oil companies.

Texans First Campaign Finance Reform. Dale believes that, in order to turn the real control of the Railroad Commission back to the people of Texas, that campaign finance reform is necessary. As Railroad Commissioner, Dale will ask the Texas Legislature to enact laws prohibiting the state’s three railroad commissioners from taking any money from the energy industries it regulates. This will minimize conflicts of interest and help turn the Railroad Commission away from its decades old practice of rubber-stamping just about anything the oil or energy industry wants.

A Fair Permitting Process. Dale believes that significant changes are needed to the commission’s outdated rules regarding permit applications and processing to give Texans a greater say in the process and treating smaller producers more fairly. Dale advocates a change in the permitting fee structure based on estimated production as opposed to the present $100 flat fee. This will help small, family-owned oil operations and ensure that large energy companies are paying their fair share toward the commission’s cleanup and environmental regulatory activities.