Senator Mary Jo White has, on two occasions in the past few months, assured us that she is not just a sock puppet for the oil and gas industry - that she is, in fact, looking out for the interests of the citizens of Pennsylvania. She has stated in no uncertain terms that, despite the fact that she has accepted campaign contributions from the oil and gas industries and was once in the employ of an industry giant, that she can, and will, make independent judgments when it comes to issues related to the industry. She will make decisions that are in the best interest of the people of Pennsylvania.
How, then, can she explain her recent co-sponsorship of SB477, the Unconventional Oil and Gas Unit Establishment Act? This act allows industry to steal a landowners property with state sanction. SB477 would allow forced pooling, eminent domain for extractive corporations. Forced pooling means if you don't want to sell minerals (in this case oil and gas) that lies beneath your property, the state can compel you to do so.
Now, in all fairness, White will tell us that "forced pooling" is actually "fair pooling," a win - win situation for land owners and for industry. It's "good" for: those landowners who don't want a rig on their property, it cuts down on environmental disturbance, and allows the gas to be collected in a "orderly manner."
But putting a fancy dress and lipstick on a thief doesn't make the theft any less onerous. Being compensated for something you didn't want taken doesn't make it right. And claiming that you aren't an oil and gas industry shill while sponsoring a bill that would allow that industry to take what is not theirs, sounds pretty much like what a sock puppet would say.