Citizen Watchdog Group:
Florida Fracking Bill Is Tip of ALEC Iceberg
Posted February 28, 2014 07:45 am
What is fracking? Click graphic
TALLAHASSEE, FL - Fracking isn't even legal in Florida, but state lawmakers have revived two bills (House Bill 157 and HB 71) that together would exempt oil and natural gas companies from disclosing the chemicals used in the extraction process, citing "trade secrets." That is, if hydraulic fracturing does become legal.
The legislation is similar to that passed in Illinois.
According to Nick Surgey, director of research for the
Center for Media and Democracy, there is mounting
evidence that the American Legislative Exchange Council
is driving the bills.
"What we do know is that the two bills taken together
closely match the ALEC agenda on fracking disclosure,"
he said.
Both bills are currently in Florida House subcommittees.
ALEC has faced criticism in recent years for its
influence on state and federal leaders. Surgey said
based on their analysis, ALEC was behind at least 13
bills in Florida's last legislative session. If fracking
were legal in Florida, the two parts of the state where
geology could support the process are southwest
Florida's Lower Sunniland field and the Jay field in the
Panhandle.
Another piece of environmental legislation in Florida
that CMD believes is driven by ALEC is
HB703. It would require the Florida Department of
Environmental Protection to consider the cost of
implementing greenhouse gas reductions when developing a
plan to meet federal regulations.
Surgery said Floridians should ask their legislators is
they are a member of ALEC.
"We know that in previous sessions, there's been a lot
of legislators from Florida who have been members of
ALEC," he said.
ALEC does not publicly support individual bills, but
lists
"model legislation" on its website. The organization
is classified as a nonpartisan, nonprofit, and their
membership is primarily made up of self-identified
conservative state lawmakers.
Graphic and some links added by the Observer