Posted 6 months, 25 days ago in 
Loading ...
Recently Sen. Josh Penry cosponsored Senate Joint Resolution 22, which, if passed will require the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission to undertake costly, bureaucratic peer reviews and economic impact assessments “of the potential effect of their rules on the future cost of oil and natural gas in Colorado.”
Measuring the potential effect of proposed rules on unknowable future natural gas costs is a fool’s errand designed to weaken new rules to reform oil and gas industry drilling practices. While Sen. Penry is opposing COGCC reforms in the state Senate, the ongoing effects of inadequate regulation are widely apparent. Streams on the Western Slope are being contaminated by accidents, spills and dumping of oil and gas production wastes and by silt-laden run-off from poorly built access roads and drilling pads. People living near oil rigs, compressors, truck traffic, and other infrastructure are breathing hazardous fumes and dust.
To justify limiting reforms of current drilling practices, Sen. Penry’s resolution states that “increases in energy costs may force low-income families … to do without necessities” and that “production … must continue at a rate that meets demand so that the cost of natural gas does not increase significantly for consumers.” The implication is that reasonable state regulation of drilling practices will drive up energy costs to Colorado’s consumers. This is a misleading oversimplification.
Colorado natural gas prices are going up whether 100 wells or 10,000 wells are drilled next year. A huge, new gas pipeline to Midwest markets will force Coloradans to pay higher natural gas prices comparable to those of the Midwest. Moreover, according to The Wall Street Journal, a global natural gas “free-for-all has let suppliers shop their product to the highest bidder.” The cost of drilling wells and even the amount of gas produced in Colorado will have only a minimal effect on the future price Coloradans pay for natural gas.
Treating Colorado like a Third World resource colony, members of the oil and gas industry intend to weaken COGCC rule making. With Sen. Penry’s help they may succeed, and the cost to western Colorado will go far beyond the inevitable rise of natural gas prices.
CHARLES KERR
Grand Junction
The Daily Sentinel’s April 23 editorial, “Who is ‘trashing’ property rights?” begins “Poor Vernon Winder,” which is meant to be sarcastic. The lack of compassion for a 73 year-old man who is about to lose his home is disturbing.
The volume of trash Mr. Winder accumulated, and the fact that he repeated the accumulation in such a short time, suggests that he might have a mental disorder. I don’t know whether the county considered this possibility and offered any help in this regard. If so it would not be surprising if Mr. Winder denied it. Many people who are affected with this type of obsessive compulsive disorder have no idea they have a problem.
It may be too late for Vernon Winder, but to anyone concerned for themselves or a loved one who collects junk to the degree that it threatens life or livelihood, please do an Internet search on “compulsive hoarding.” There is plenty of information and help for those who need it.
TONYA MARTIN
Grand Junction
9 Responses to “Printed letters, April 28, 2008”
Posted April 29th, 2008 at 10:26 pm Login to Send PM Report this comment
In the initial letter Mr. Charles Kerr refers to Josh Penry, and his efforts on the part of the energy companies. That is only to be expected. It is sad to say but, Mr. Penry is by far not the “brightest” bulb in the chandelier. I would agree with one of his colleagues said of him in the Senate, that if he doesn’t have the “facts”, he makes some up. I don’t know about that but, have had the opportunity to meet him once, I know that he is not one to think things through. He claims to be a “fiscal conservative” but, like so many who like to be seen in that way, when comes the time to “feed at the trough”, he likes to first in line and “get my fair share.” That, in my humble opinion, is not only being intellectually dishonest, it is downright deceptive. It is truly sad to see one so young already corrupted. Perhaps his political mentor was not that virtuous after all.
Posted April 30th, 2008 at 7:26 am Login to Send PM Report this comment
Denigrating Mr. Penry for what reason?
” It is sad to say but, Mr. Penry is by far not the “brightest” bulb in the chandelier.”
However, he made it to the “chandelier”, you sir, did not, nor did you even have the courage to put yourself on the ballot.
Did you have something substantive to comment on that is even slightly related to the body of this letter?
We missed it.
That would make you off topic again.
Posted April 30th, 2008 at 7:36 am Login to Send PM Report this comment
Penry has been corrupted for quite a while. His persona is nothing more than a Republican mirror image of Bill Clinton’s; He will say and do anything to further his own political ambition. His mantra has been, “Keep supporting me; help me get up the next rung on the political ladder, so the Western Slope will finally have some political clout!” And too many of us bought it.
His allegiance now is to whoever will help him advance, and we on the Western Slope don’t have the kind of power he wants anymore. We served our purpose. We got him to Denver, where he is fulfilling his promise to serve the people. It’s just that none of those people are from the Western Slope anymore. His sights are set much higher than the State Legislature, and this area’s only worth to him now is as his “local boy makes good” backstory.
He doesn’t have a lot of intelligence or integrity, but he is blessed with what will get him ahead politcally; a complete lack of conscience, and blind obedience to his Masters. And those will serve him very, very well.
Posted April 30th, 2008 at 7:42 am Login to Send PM Report this comment
curmudgeon, i’m holding my opinion of mr penry until i see more evidence of corruption….but what you state is typical of most politicians nowadays…my grandfather (the smartest man in the world) put it to me like this…”politicians are nothing more than high-priced lawyers, and lawyers are nothing more than parasites….they live off the misery of others”
Posted April 30th, 2008 at 7:50 am Login to Send PM Report this comment
You’re right, of course, hiteredneck; and I should have been more careful with my hyperbole. To be clearer, I don’t think Penry is corrupt in the sense that he would take a bribe or engage in any illegality; he’s just succumbed to an all-consuming desire for the next step up the ladder, to the detriment of those who put him there. And, as you pointed out, that’s not exactly uncommon.
Posted April 30th, 2008 at 8:06 am Login to Send PM Report this comment
Mr. Penry is looking for a permanent position for life.
Beginning as a “statesman”, then progressing to something like president of some prestigious university with a handsome paycheck, benefits that mere mortals cannot even dream of, and a retirement in the millions per year.
Just like every other politician?
Posted April 30th, 2008 at 8:14 am Login to Send PM Report this comment
Well, not quite every politician. I think there are some who actually care about their constituents more than they care about their next office, but they’re the exception, rather than the rule.
Still, does that make what Penry is doing right, just because everyone else is doing it? He’s not alone in his ambition, to be sure. In my opinion, that doesn’t make it okay to forget who got you where you are.
Posted April 30th, 2008 at 9:48 am Login to Send PM Report this comment
Many would restrict the definition of “corruption” to that of taking a “bribe” of money or other material recompense. That, I would submit, may be much too narrow a view. The term “corruption” might be broadened to include “the use of a thing, be it a concept or position that is used for that for which it was not intended.”
When any individual, particularly in politics, attains a position of authority or influence then, once attained, places his/her own personal well-being or ambition ahead of the interests of the public he/she is obligated to serve, and begins serving the interests of specific groups or individuals who can be beneficial to his/her career, instead of serving the public interest, that also is corruption, corruption of the position.
Posted April 30th, 2008 at 9:59 am Login to Send PM Report this comment
corruption: noun 1. the act of corrupting or state of being corrupt.
2. moral perversion; depravity.
3. perversion of integrity.
4. corrupt or dishonest proceedings.
5. bribery.
6. debasement or alteration, as of language or a text.
7. a debased form of a word.
8. putrefactive decay; rottenness.
9. any corrupting influence or agency.
pretty much sounds like politics in general, esp definition #5
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.