The Governor’s
effort to forge a compromise on the fracking wars has stalled, and as he puts
it, all sides “are furious.” Both Hickenlooper and Congressman Jared Polis are
under attack. Ironically, the greatest hostility they are facing is coming from
their putative allies. Major parts of the industry are opposing Hickenlooper
and the compromise as too risky and not needed. Environmentalists have taken on
Polis for selling them out. And, both groups complain they weren’t invited to
the negotiating table.
War chests are being
built. Pro-industry forces have raised nearly $10 million. But, as the fracking
votes in North Front Range cities showed last fall or the Cantor-Brat race last
week, money doesn’t defeat a well-positioned idea.
A compromise is
still likely a smart strategy.
Denver pollster
Floyd Ciruli said there’s obviously a “very serious disconnect” between Polis
and the anti-fracking movement.
“[H]e looked like he
was making a good faith effort and was by and large respected and liked by the
environmental community, and doing everything he could to say, ‘Well, if you
don’t change a thing, I guess I can live with this,’ but that then put him in
the camp with the governor,” said Ciruli. “For about four minutes, everybody
liked him.”
On Initiative 75:
Ciruli predicted
Initiative 75 would gather enough signatures to qualify for the Nov. 4 ballot,
whereas the Hickenlooper and Polis compromise appears to have run aground.
“This is obviously
not working,” said Ciruli. “It’s kind of falling apart here.”
Also see 9News:
Colorado could be ‘ground zero’ for fracking debate
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