Disclosure rules for oil and gas pass Colo. House
Disclosure rules for oil and gas industry pass Colo. House without Republican support
DENVER (AP) -- Colorado House Democrats have passed new restrictions on the state's powerful oil and gas regulators.
The House voted 34-29 Tuesday to require and stricter standards for recusal on conflicts of interest. Two Democrats and all Republicans opposed the bill.
The bill originally banned current oil and gas workers from membership on the Colorado Oil & Gas Conservation Commission, but Democratic sponsors ratcheted back the ban.
The revised bill makes an important policy statement to regulators — that public safety is more important than extracting all possible oil and gas resources. That language raised hackles from Republicans, who argued that Democrats want to hurt property rights.
The Senate now will consider the proposal.
