Yearly Archives: 2012

Colorado congressmen continue putting donors before families
2012-05-16
Matt Garrington, Denver-based co-director of The Checks and Balances Project, offered the following statement and facts regarding today’s markup of three bills sponsored by Colorado House Republicans that would create more giveaways to the oil and gas industry: H.R. 4381, H.R. 4382 and H.R. 4383. “Reps. Doug Lamborn, Scott Tipton, and Mike Coffman should have… Read more »
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Oil & gas industry continues rampant speculation on public lands
2012-05-15
Today, the Interior Department released a report which shows that the oil and gas industry continues to hold millions of acres of leased lands and waters where neither production or exploration activities are being conducted. The report comes ahead of a legislative package of land giveaways by three Colorado Congressman which is up for a… Read more »
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Confidential, ‘subversive’ campaign documents show fossil fuel-funded advocacy groups coordinating with local anti-wind groups
2012-05-10
On Tuesday, The Guardian newspaper used documents obtained by the Checks & Balances Project to expose coordination between local anti-wind groups and fossil fuel-funded advocacy groups’ attacking clean energy. On February 1st and 2nd, at least 2 prominent advocacy groups connected to fossil fuel interests (American Tradition Institute (ATI) and Committee For A Constructive Tomorrow… Read more »
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After a century’s worth of lessons, government needs to stop picking the same loser
2012-05-10
Matt Garrington, Denver-based co-director of The Checks and Balances Project, offered the following statement and facts regarding today’s Subcommittee on Energy and Environment hearing discussing the failed energy source, oil shale. “Chairman Hall and others have argued against clean energy, saying the government shouldn’t pick winners and losers. Yet today they’re holding a hearing on… Read more »
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It’s summer, time for flip flops
2012-05-9
Gas prices have decreased for the past five weeks, in response to the same sort of global economic factors that cause them to increase. But that answer doesn’t work well for oil company politicians and their spokespeople at Fox News. Media Matters takes a good look at how Fox News is flip flopping and saying… Read more »
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New Push For Oil Shale Is Continued Failure
2012-05-3
On May 1, 1982, nearly 10,000 people worked at Exxon’s Colony Oil Shale project on Colorado’s Western Slope. Twenty-four hours later, Exxon shut the Colony project down. Thousands of people were left jobless and the region’s economy was devastated. This week marks 30 years since the disaster at Colony; what was to become known as… Read more »
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Coloradans welcome “Flat Earth Society” members of Congress
2012-05-2
Groups call for energy reality check, end of excessive taxpayer handouts to Big Oil DENVER – Several Colorado groups took members of Congress to task today over their failed energy policies, political rhetoric, and ties to industry. Clean Water Action, Colorado Fair Share Alliance, the Checks and Balances Project and local activists gathered on the… Read more »
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Oil Shale: A Century of Failure
2012-04-30
Wednesday, May 02, 2012, marks 30 years since Black Sunday hit the Western Slope of Colorado, putting thousands of people out of work and devastating the region’s economy. Just two days prior, the Checks and Balances Project released a report, which examines 100 years of failed investment in oil shale.   Executive summary Since 1917, when… Read more »
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Colorado politicians fast track new giveaways to donor oil companies
2012-04-26
Matt Garrington, Denver-based co-director of The Checks and Balances Project, offered the following statement and facts regarding today’s hearing on Colorado House Republicans’ three bills to give away more of the West to the oil and gas industry: H.R. 4381, H.R. 4382 and H.R. 4383. “Reps. Lamborn, Tipton and Coffman are doing a great job… Read more »
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