Hesperus rancher Tom Compton won approval on a 35-0 vote, but Republicans opposed three other nominees, saying they are part of Ritter's plans to over-regulate the energy industry.
"I'm afraid that will usher in the Ritter recession here in Colorado," said Sen. Greg Brophy, R-Wray.
Ritter spokesman Evan Dreyer called Brophy's charge ridiculous, and said Ritter understands the value of the energy industry.
"The industry is clearly one reason why our economy appears to be in better shape than the national economy as a whole," Dreyer said. "It is disappointing that the Republicans are using these appointments as an opportunity to play partisan politics. But that seems to be the path they've taken in an election year."
A bipartisan majority of the Legislature set this fight in motion last year, when it passed two bills to remake the Oil and Gas Conservation Commission. Sen. Jim Isgar said Monday that the old commission was tilted in favor of the industry.
"Our goal is that the commission needs to have a broader focus. The industry is important, but the industry has to operate in a responsible manner," said Isgar, D-Hesperus.
Now the commission has nine members - three from the oil and gas industry, the directors of the state departments of health and natural resources, and experts in soil conservation, agriculture, environmental protection and local government.
|
All six new nominees to the commission won approval Monday, but the Senate's 15 Republicans opposed two appointees - Garfield County Commissioner Tresi Houpt and Grand Junction soil expert Richard Alward. Industry representative Joshua Epel passed on a 27-8 vote. The rest were confirmed unanimously.
The governor appoints hundreds of people to boards and commissions each year, and almost all of them win unanimous Senate approval. But the oil and gas group drew fire because the commission is now rewriting its rules to require companies to pay closer attention to public health and wildlife.
Republicans said Monday that some of the nominees are too biased against the industry.
"I don't believe we need to put the fox in the henhouse," Brophy said.
Just one year ago, environmentalists often used the same phrase to argue that the commission was too biased in favor of the industry.
Isgar tried to reassure Republicans.
"I will be watching along with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to make sure this is not about shutting down the industry," Isgar said.
