Capitol Conversation: Next Steps in Oil and Gas Legislation

As part of our weekly capitol conversation series Bente Birkeland talks to statehouse reporters about the next steps for oil and gas legislation this session. Many lawmakers were waiting on recommendations from the Governor’s oil and gas task force before introducing bills. The task force recently proposed nine recommendations, but did not vote to give local communities more control over oil and gas drilling.

Capitol Conversation: Next Steps in Oil and Gas Legislation kgnu

Bente Birkeland takes a look ahead with Ivan Moreno of the Associated Press and Peter Marcus with the Durango Herald.

What’s next for the state legislature and for a possible anti-fracking initiative going before voters in 2016?

Ivan Moreno – Associated Press:

“Democrats who have been vocal about wanting to have more local control over this activity, they may propose some legislation there. But it’s going to be a challenge because at the end of the day Republicans still control the Senate, and they have said repeatedly that there’s no need for more regulations.”

Peter Marcus- Durango Herald

“I think it’s important to also point out the tenacity of the anti-fracking crowd. We keep talking about U.S. Representative and his funding the initiatives. With or without Polis’ money, these so-called fracktivists are going to be going to the ballot.”