Chris Christie profits from recycling fracking wastewater.

[emcguffie]

And Chris Christie is set to vote on Monday on whether to allow fracking in the Delaware River Basin.

link:

http://www.facebook.com/notes/julie-ann-edgar/call-nj-governor-chris-christies-office-today-instructions-here/10150899300945436

Call NJ Governor Chris Christie's office TODAY, instructions HERE
by Julie Ann Edgar on Tuesday, November 1, 2011 at 3:39pm

Fifteen Days of Action to Save the Delaware http://savethedelaware.wordpress.com/


Today we begin by targeting Delaware River Basin Commission voter and decision-maker Governor Chris Christie of New Jersey.
....

It has recently been brought to light by the sharp research of the New Jersey Sierra Club ( http://newjersey.sierraclub.org/ ) --and THANKS to them~ GREAT WORK!!--that Governor Christie is invested in a company that recycles fracking wastewater. This information was released on 24 October 2011 through NPR, and you can read the complete report at this link: http://stateimpact.npr.org/pennsylvania/2011/10/24/nj-governor-has-interest-in-fracking-technology/

This article states that NJ Governor Christie profited $28,000 from his ownership of stock in this particular company, according to his 2010 tax return. Now this is not millions of dollars, but it is a modest income for one person, from a single investment. This revelation exposes a significant conflict of interest in two important respects. First of all, it creates a doubt about his motivation to reject a complete ban passed overwhelmingly this past summer by both the NJ State Assembly, as well as the NJ Senate. See the full report on these votes here: http://www.desmogblog.com/new-jersey-senate-passes-fracking-ban

Presumably the Assembly and the Senate represent the will of the citizens, but rather than sign the bill into law, Governor Christie vetoed the ban and instead put in place a one year moratorium. It now appears that one possible reason that he did so was due to his vested financial interest. If he is invested in a company which recycles fracking wastewater, it would seem that when the fracking business does well, that the Governor will also do well with his investment.

The second respect in which his conflict of interest is a huge problem presents itself with regards to the upcoming 21 November 2011 vote which will be taken by the Delaware River Basin Commission, of which he is one of the five voting members. The commissioners will vote on whether or not to approve regulations permitting shale gas drilling in the Delaware River Basin. The governor’s investment would also lead one to believe that he is unable to make an unbiased vote as to whether or not to permit fracking in this sensitive watershed serving 15.6 million people, including the populations of New York City and Philadelphia.

....


(much more at link)

[emcguffie]

1. I'm kicking this myself.

I want someone to notice this. I am horrified and appalled.

And I just spoke to Christie's office for the second time, and cannot believe what I heard. Well, actually, I can believe it, but I was quite surprised and taken aback.

It could be that we were speaking very different languages? I don't know.

The first time I called I spoke to a young woman who wasn't very interested and who probably didn't even note that I called. The second time, after reading about Christie's financial interests in fracking, the young woman on the phone could tell I had a concern and she put me through another level, and a young man answered.

I told him about my concerns about the potential for a conflict of interests, due to Christie's investments in a company that does fracking wastewater recycling. He pointed out that Christie had signed a moratorium on fracking in NJ. Yes, that is true, it was a year ago. And apparently he has recently extended it until next August, when it will expire. But there is a meeting Monday to vote on regulations that would allow fracking in the Delaware River Basin. It seems to me that, if those regulations are passed, when the moratorium expires, fracking will begin. Nine months isn't that far into the future.

Back to our nonsensical conversation. About the potential conflict of interest, he said to me, very seriously, "That story was only picked up by NPR." (Very heavy pause.)

I said, "So?"

"That story was only picked up by NPR. From the Sierra Club."

"So, what does that mean?"

"Just that the only news outlet that picked that up was NPR."

We went back and forth for a while. He obviously thought it was very clear that NPR was not to be trusted in any way. I told him what I thought about the media in general. He told me that there were three other governors on the Commission. I pointed out that Governor Christie is the only governor who governs my state, NJ. And then he said, well, Governor Christie extended the moratorium.

As if by extending the moratorium until August, that put an end to the discussion.

So I asked him specifically how Christie would vote Monday on the regulations to allow fracking. This he did not know anything about.

But he thought I was ridiculous and intemperate, and obviously very foolish to give any credence to a story put out by NPR. As if they are a liberal-leaning tool of the left?

Anyone have any media connections out there?

[emcguffie]

2. Please, where is this showing up?

Would someone please read my little calling-Christie's-office story?

It's the conflict of interest I'm trying to generate a little interest in now.

[JustAnotherGen]

3. I'm going to send

An email to the AM drive and PM drive time bozos at 101.5. . . maybe they'll chit chat about it?

[emcguffie]

4. Many thanks.

I just sent a rather too-long email to Keith at Current TV. Don't know if there's much chance of that doing any good at all.

[grntuscarora]

5. Found & Read!

Christie's people sound like idiots. Here's hoping Keith and others pick up the story and run with it. Thanks for trying!

[emcguffie]

7. Thanks.

I may try to do some media outreach. Don't know yet. I mean, beyond sending an email to Keith. I don't even know if my local library has those media contact books. But I might go see.

I find this all quite astonishing, and that it is so low key blows my mind.

[JustAnotherGen]

9. Nothing last night

Or this AM that I heard. I actually switched over to 101.9 though on my commute to hear what was going on in Manhattan.

[Laelth]

6. k&r for exposure. n/t

-Laelth

[applegrove]

8. I'm still waiting to find out where the radioactive elements come into play.