Interstate Oil and Gas Compact Commission rejects the “Green New Deal”

MEDORA, ND - The Interstate Oil and Gas Compact Commission (IOGCC) this week passed Railroad Commission Chairman Wayne Christian's (R - Texas) resolution urging the federal government to oppose the Green New Deal in the spirit of cooperative federalism.

"Last week, Senator Bernie Sanders unveiled his $16.3 trillion Green New Deal plan which would cripple our state's economy by banning the extraction of fossil fuels," said Christian. "As a statewide elected official charged with overseeing our state's natural resource development, it is my duty to stand up for Texas' Tenth Amendment Rights."

While discussing the resolution, Christian emphasized that the United States has some of the cleanest air in the world. From 1970 - 2017, the six major pollutants monitored by the EPA have plunged by 73 percent, while the U.S. economy grew by 262 percent and its population by 60 percent.

"Over my dead body will I allow out-of-state forces to eliminate jobs, decrease state revenue, and increase the cost of living on the constituents I represent," continued Christian. "I am proud to stand with my fellow regulators from across the nation and strongly urge the federal government to oppose the Green New Deal."

According to the action plan, IOGCC will send copies of the resolution to the President, Vice President, key administration officials, and Congressional leaders to encourage them to oppose the Green New Deal and any substantially similar legislation.

The IOGCC is a multi-state government agency that works to ensure our nation's oil and natural gas resources are conserved and maximized while protecting public health, safety and the environment. IOGCC was created more than 80 years ago when six states joined together to resolve common issues and share best practices for industry regulation, minimizing federal intervention. Christian was appointed by Gov. Greg Abbott as Texas' official representative to IOGCC in April 2017 and currently serves on several committees, including as second vice-chairman of the Steering Committee.