DENVER Two more gas and oil people would join the state board that regulates the industry under a bill the House passed Thursday.
Rep. Ray Scott, R-Grand Junction, blamed former Gov. Bill Ritter for chasing the gas and oil industry out of the state when he remade the Oil and Gas Conservation Commission.
The group used to have seven members, with five from the industry. Ritter created a nine-person panel, with three from the industry and others to protect the environment and surface owners.
This bill came from 30,000 people that lost their jobs in the oil and gas industry because we had an oil and gas commission that did not understand the industry, Scott said.
Democrats presented charts that showed Colorados gas industry fared no worse than neighboring states during the recession.
The Colorado Oil and Gas Association had sued the state because of environmental rules the new commission passed, but it dropped its lawsuit this year and now says it can work with the new commission.
Reach Joe Hanel at joeh@cortezjournal.com.