Yesterday I wrote a
diary highlighting the seven Republican State Senators that killed legislation which would've banned the importation of fracking waste fluid into New York from other states (
S.5123-A). After conducting more research, back in 2011 there was another significant piece of legislation aimed at protecting public health and safety which would've required all gas drillers to fully disclose the contents of the chemical components used within hydraulic fracturing fluids (
S.425) and it was also blocked by the Senate's Environmental Conservation Committee from a floor vote by many of the same State Senators that blocked last week's bill banning fracking waste importation. The five State Senators which consistently appear to serve big-money energy interests over the interests of their middle and working-class constituency are Betty Little (R - North Country), Carl Marcellino (R - Long Island), George Maziarz (R - Niagara County), Thomas O'Mara (R - Southern Tier) and Catherine Young (R - Southern Tier).
The big problem is that there is no way these five State Senators can be punished by their constituents for making continued votes against the public safety and welfare of most New Yorkers. This November all five of these State Senators will be running for re-election with no Democratic opposition.
As I mentioned on my diary yesterday, these Republican State Senators have received tens of thousands of dollars from the fracking industry, according to research conducted by citizen watchdog group Common Cause.
Betty Little (R) has taken $53,100.00 in contributions from pro-fracking interests
Carl Marcellino (R) has taken $12,475.00 in contributions from pro-fracking interests
George Maziarz (R) has taken $193,830.58 in contributions from pro-fracking interests
Thomas O'Mara (R) has taken $56,375.00 in contributions from pro-fracking interests
Catharine Young (R) has taken $77,545.00 in contributions from pro-fracking interests