Via: Truthout
Gov. Cuomo Calls for Curbing Money in Politics, but Will Money Infuence His Decision on Fracking?
By David Halperin, Republic Report
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo announced Tuesday that reducing the role of money in politics will move to the top of his agenda: He will begin a push for campaign finance reform in the state. This is great news. But some are questioning whether Cuomo is ready to put his money where his mouth is right now, on an issue of critical importance: Pressure from big money lobbyists might be a factor pushing Cuomo’s administration toward lifting a moratorium on the controversial practice of hydraulic fracturing, or fracking. Cuomo has indicated he will decide shortly, and he seems to be close to a decision to permit fracking in some areas.
Fracking involves pumping large amounts of water, plus chemicals and sand, underground to extract natural gas. There’s plenty of evidence, especially from Pennsylvania, that fracking can be a terrible deal for local residents, with many of them ripped off in deals leasing their land to energy companies and suffering from contaminated water. (Watch this video).
