Scott McInnis’ tirade against Gov. Ritter seems quite timely given the nature of an article buried on page 7 of the Nov. 2 issue of The Daily Sentinel.

Perhaps someone should send Pennsylvania Gov. Rendell a copy of Scott’s endorsement, along with the article, “Southern Colorado county copes with methane mystery.”

The real mystery is why Scott chooses to ignore the fact that until Gov. Ritter was voted into office, the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission acted as the cheering squad for the industry it was intended to regulate. New rules were long overdue, considering the changing nature of the population and the proximity to the natural gas drilling.

Our need for natural gas has never been greater, and impacts from extraction will continue to occur. However, it is past time for those making the profits to mitigate the impacts created making that profit. Scott’s assertion that Gov. Ritter has “run the gas business out of the state” is nothing but political rhetoric. The price of natural gas is what has slowed drilling down. Energy companies are run by some of the brightest minds available. When profits are down they cut capital expenditures. Economics 101.

To ignore the impacts in order to create more short term employment is not wise policy. Accountability should be required on all fronts. Scott should know that many of those employed by industry still have not registerd their vehicles in Colorado, much less registered to vote. Taking care of some of the impacted farmers’ and ranchers’ needs might just be a wiser political maneuver.

Scott rode in to the political arena on a white horse called, “Term Limits.” That plank fell out of his platform when it was his time to come home. I think Josh Penry has a more moderate approach to the oil and gas industry and will get my primary vote next year. As far as I can tell, Josh has not flipped on issues due to his own ambitions.

Carl Roberts
Hotchkiss

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