Bush Family Play Central Role in Lawsuits Against Denton, Texas Fracking Ban

[Octafish]

They're Baaaaack...

Bush Family Play Central Role in Lawsuits Against Denton, Texas Fracking Ban

by STEVE HORN
CounterPunch, Nov. 7-9, 2014

On November 4, Denton, Texas, became the first city in the state to ban the process of hydraulic fracturing (“fracking”) when 59 percent of voters cast ballots in favor of the initiative. It did so in the heart of the Barnett Shalebasin, where George Mitchell — the “father of fracking” — drilled the first sample wells for his company Mitchell Energy.

As promised by the oil and gas industryand by Texas Railroad Commission commissioner David Porter, the vote was met with immediate legal backlash. Both theTexas General Land Office and the Texas Oil and Gas Association (TXOGA) filed lawsuits in Texas courts within roughly 12 hours of the vote taking place, the latest actions in the aggressive months-long campaign by the industry and theTexas state government to fend off the ban.

The Land Office and TXOGA lawsuits, besides making similar legal arguments about state law preempting local law under the Texas Constitution, share something else in common: ties to former President George W. Bush and the Bush family at large.

In the Land Office legal case, though current land commissioner Jerry Patterson signed off on the lawsuit, he will soon depart from office. And George Prescott Bush — son of former Florida Governor and prospective 2016 Republican Party presidential nominee Jeb Bush and nephew of former President George W. Bush — will take his place.

George P. Bush won his land commissioner race in a landslide, gaining 61 percent of the vote. Given the cumbersome and lengthy nature of litigation in the U.S., it appears the Land Office case will have only just begun by the time Bush assumes the office.

CONTINUED w/links to all manner of information on the First Family of Mineral Extraction...

http://www.counterpunch.org/2014/11/07/bush-family-play-central-role-in-lawsuits-against-denton-texas-fracking-ban/

BFEE: Putting the Money into Politics and War Since Whenever.

[proverbialwisdom]

1. More.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1017221652
http://www.democraticunderground.com/1017190283

Helen Slottje, 2014 Goldman Environmental Prize, USA
Goldman Prize

Published on Apr 27, 2014 (2,112 views)

Using a clause in the state constitution that gives municipalities the right to make local land use decisions, Helen Slottje provided pro-bono legal assistance, helping towns across New York defend themselves from oil and gas companies by passing local bans on fracking.

She is the North America winner of the 2014 Goldman Environmental Prize, the world's largest recognition for grassroots environmental activists. For more information visit http://www.goldmanprize.org/home

[blm]

2. BFEE always sticks to their longterm plan for NWO, no matter what.

The NWO rule of corporate empires will replace this democratic republic.

The TeaParty has been duped into fighting FOR corporate empires - exactly the opposite of Ben Franklin and Christopher Gadsden's progressive views of citizen government.

[proverbialwisdom]

3. IMO, adding that type of terminology to the story isn't constructive - it's distracting.

This situation will test, "Yes, we can."

On the one hand, we've got a really informed electorate led by a highly intelligent, passionate and motivated group of women fighting FOR HEALTH and AGAINST CANCER, DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES, and other chronic environmentally induced diseases.

On the other, you've got a ruthless industry with bipartisan support in this case fronted by the youngest Bush to hold elected office.

Place your bets. The public has the power.

[blm]

4. I stick with the basic truth about the Bush family and their goals.

I'm on a Democratic forum - I can do that.

[proverbialwisdom]

5. That type of framing distorts the issue which transcends bad news bipartisan business plans/support.

MUST READ: http://bcaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/BC-Fracking-1-Pager.pdf

http://www.bcaction.org/resources/breast-cancer-action-toolkits/

Fact Sheets (PDFs):

BCAction provides concise, science-based information on various issues of interest to people concerned about breast cancer. We provides a critical analysis of these important breast cancer advocacy topics by challenging assumptions about the disease and inspiring change to address and end the breast cancer epidemic. Each fact sheet provides a general overview and framing of the topic, a clear and consistent foundation of information and BCAction’s perspective on the topic. We encourage you to share the following fact sheets, available in PDF format, with friends, family, co-workers and your larger community.

-> Facts & Myths about Breast Cancer
-> The Facts and Nothing but the Facts
-> What to Do When Someone You Know Has Been Diagnosed With Breast Cancer
-> What You Should Know About Breast Cancer and the Environment
-> Ductal Carcinoma in Situ (DCIS)
-> Inequities in Breast Cancer: Health is Not Just Healthcare
-> Disparities in Breast Cancer: Through the Breast Cancer Continuum
-> Breast Cancer and Fracking (link above)

[center][/center]

[blm]

7. I'm a bottom line person - if you don't like it, you are welcome to move past my comments.

It won't bother me a bit. I'm too old to play nice with global fascism.

Your mileage may vary.

[smirkymonkey]

6. That family is a cancer upon the face of the planet.

Thanks for the interesting read!

[proverbialwisdom]

8. Update: Environmental Groups To Intervene In Defense Of Fracking Ban

Multiple embedded links at original.

https://www.popularresistance.org/environmental-groups-to-intervene-in-defense-of-fracking-ban/

Environmental Groups To Intervene In Defense Of Fracking Ban

By Steve Horn, www.desmogblog.com
December 5th, 2014

Source: http://frackfreedenton.com

Just days after attorneys representing Denton, Texas submitted their initial responses to two legal complaints filed against Denton — the first Texas city ever to ban hydraulic fracturing (“fracking”) — environmental groups have filed an intervention petition. That is, a formal request to enter the two lawsuits filed against the city after its citizens voted to ban fracking on election day.

Denton Drilling Awareness Group and Earthworks are leading the intervention charge, represented by attorneys from the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) and Earthjustice. The drilling awareness group runs the Frack Free Denton campaign.

Those groups have joined up with attorneys representing Denton to fight lawsuits filed against the city by both the Texas Oil and Gas Association and the Texas General Land Commission.

Texas Oil and Gas Association is represented by Baker Botts, a firm with close ties to the Bush family. And the Land Commission will soon be headed by George P. Bush, the son of potential 2016 Republican Party presidential candidate Jeb Bush and nephew of George W. Bush.

Earthjustice attorney Deborah Goldberg, lawyer for Dryden, New York — the first town in that state to ban fracking, which set a precedent allowing municipalities in the state to ban oil and gas development — filed as one of the requested intervenors.

“The State of Texas has granted municipalities the right to oversee oil and gas operations. The people of Denton have exercised that right, and we intend to help preserve it,” said Goldberg in a press release. “When state and federal officials won’t stand up for the public, citizens must have the right to use local democracy to protect themselves.”

Though Denton has set aside a $4 million fund to slug out the litigation, the outside legal help and financial aid from environmental groups will strengthen the public interest defense against the industry lawsuits.