Railroad Commissioner Targets a Russian Threat

by Jim Malewitz
Sept. 8, 2014
33Comments

The Railroad Commission of Texas is talking an awful lot about Russia this summer.

Commissioner David Porter on Monday become the second of the state's three oil and gas regulators to raise concerns that Russia, looking to bolster its share of the global natural gas market, is waging a misinformation campaign against hydraulic fracturing, or fracking — the method of blasting apart shale to free up oil and natural gas.

Russia is the world’s second-leading natural gas producer, behind the U.S., and Texas is responsible for about one-third of U.S. output. Porter says that Gazprom — Russia's ...

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Comments (33)

September 8 @ 6:48 p.m.

Thrifty Senior

Is there no limit to right wing stupidity? Add this to Todd Staples' rant about a vegitarian conspiracy and you've got to wonder.
September 8 @ 6:59 p.m.

Mary Mahurin via Texas Tribune on Facebook

It's dangerous and a threat to public health & safety and the environment? It's poison? Not propaganda the truth.
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September 8 @ 6:59 p.m.

Michael Dyer

Is there a question about where the term "wingnut" came from ? I am turning this guy into Pussy RIot, they will deal with him.
September 8 @ 7:08 p.m.

Robin Rieck via Texas Tribune on Facebook

How much money has oil and gas pumped into him to muddle his thinking about this issue?
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September 8 @ 7:11 p.m.

Jim Hsu via Texas Tribune on Facebook

This is a new way to obfuscate: "Y'all Russkies!" I didn't know all those American scientists and concerned citizens against fracking are all Russian.
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September 8 @ 7:11 p.m.

Tony Carver via Texas Tribune on Facebook

....and ISIS Militants could have already crossed the Mexican border into Texas.... Why is every person in our state government so full of Sh*t?
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September 8 @ 7:19 p.m.

Mack Dodge

There is always a trail of money in these stories. What about the money Commissioner Porter takes from the industry to finance his campaign. Isn't there another Sunset review coming up for this agency ?
September 8 @ 7:22 p.m.

Hazel Curry via Texas Tribune on Facebook

Russia? Earthquake in Arlington caused by Russian misinformation about fracking in Texas? Earthquakes in Cleburne caused by Russian misinformation on fracking? "Put me in a highchair, tie a bib around my neck and feed me one more lie."
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September 8 @ 7:23 p.m.

Hazel Curry via Texas Tribune on Facebook

Liar ! Liar ! Pants on fire !!
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September 8 @ 7:24 p.m.

Erin N Michael Copeland via Texas Tribune on Facebook

Let me guess, he is a republican? ~MC ~
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September 8 @ 7:27 p.m.

John D Tinsley via Texas Tribune on Facebook

Where is this guy's tinfoil hat? Incompetent cronyism at its finest.
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September 8 @ 7:50 p.m.

Sam Davis via Texas Tribune on Facebook

They're also spreading unfounded rumors about the danger of running with scissors, gargling with tacks, and drinking lye.
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September 8 @ 7:55 p.m.

WUSRPH

I thought Smithermann was the official jokester or maker of stupid comments on the RR Commission, but since he's leaving it looks like Porter is auditioning for the role. One can only hope it does him the same amount of good it did for Smithermann when he ran (and LOST) for attorney general.
September 8 @ 7:59 p.m.

Bambi Clark via Texas Tribune on Facebook

He bought!
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September 8 @ 8:11 p.m.

David Horton via Texas Tribune on Facebook

Diane...turn off fox for a minute and stop hoping for an attack....thank your obvious "patriot buddy" GWB for destabilizing the whole region and causing needless death and destruction.... and most especially for creating ISIS and other groups by going to war with Iraq because of a grudge...not WMDs ( which were never there..
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September 8 @ 8:15 p.m.

Jim Vance

Proof? We don' need no stinkin' proof! Thar be another election to steal and we mean to blather this disingenuous, misguiding propaganda crap to the public in spades until we're successful!!!
September 8 @ 8:42 p.m.

Daniel Astalas via Texas Tribune on Facebook

Oil whore!
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September 8 @ 8:44 p.m.

Fred Talmadge

Reminds me of the Vietnam war era when all protestors labled commie-pinkos.
September 8 @ 9:23 p.m.

E. Quote

Actually David Porter is applying his principle: "if you're anti-oil and gas, you're anti-Texas" by applying a principle offered by H. L. Mencken, that is: "The whole aim of practical politics is to keep the populace alarmed (and hence clamorous to be led to safety) by menacing it with an endless series of hobgoblins, all of them imaginary." (a favorite tactic of U.S. politicians)
Russia may be trying to discourage U.S. production of Gas (Methane) but the Railroad Commission's denial that there is any downside to Fracking, despite considerable evidence, will do much more to harm production in the long run than any amount of Russian money and influence.
September 8 @ 9:26 p.m.

Matthew Cowan via Texas Tribune on Facebook

Wow, the ignorance from the liberals here is down right sad.
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September 8 @ 9:27 p.m.

Judith Shields via Texas Tribune on Facebook

The aquifers don't lie.
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September 8 @ 9:36 p.m.

Mo Jo via Texas Tribune on Facebook

You gotta be Fracking Kidding me! The worst thing about Texas politicians is they are terrible liars. What's even worse is a majority of voting Texans drink these idiots bath water.
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September 8 @ 9:54 p.m.

Sonora Hartley via Texas Tribune on Facebook

Oh, please! What a nitwit.
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September 9 @ 1:25 a.m.

ChicoMendez

Don't back down Mr. Porter. Rex Tillerman and Exxon are making a killing cooperating with the Ruskies! I hope you expose this plot against US gas interests and haul his ass into court asap for traitorous crimes against US capitalism.
September 9 @ 7:25 a.m.

Peter A. Ravella via Texas Tribune on Facebook

Wait, I thought ISIS was responsive for the anti-fracking sentiments in America. Can't believe they missed that! I hear the earthquake and bad water rumors are crossing the boarder daily through the drug mules.
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September 9 @ 10:55 a.m.

Cindy Rhoton Cook via Texas Tribune on Facebook

Save our drinking water, stop the fracking! Invest in renewable energy!
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September 9 @ 11:12 a.m.

Norris Patterson via Texas Tribune on Facebook

A communist plot, that's right! Sounds logical me. I thought it was Obama's fault.
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September 9 @ 1:18 p.m.

Neil Moyer via Texas Tribune on Facebook

Another Red Scare!!
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September 9 @ 2:45 p.m.

Cindy Rhoton Cook via Texas Tribune on Facebook

http://thinkprogress.org/climate/2014/09/02/3477823/texas-arsenic-fracking-study/
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September 9 @ 9:27 p.m.

pete wag

Sort of odd that he is speaking out about Russia's legitimate concern over the questionable practice of hydro-fracking when he was silent about the environmental attacks over the keystone pipeline, which should have happened long ago. Perhaps he is tainted?
September 9 @ 9:41 p.m.

Kay Golden Eissler via Texas Tribune on Facebook

What a joke!!
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September 10 @ 8:08 a.m.

Marty Jamieson via Texas Tribune on Facebook

Replace him!
Lack of common sense and good judgement?
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September 10 @ 9:34 a.m.

RetiredFed DCOkie

I don't think the anti-fracking movement needs any help from the Russians. What's happening in Oklahoma and other pro-fracking states is enough negative publicity to scare most people except for the politicians and oil companies.