News Room

SENATORS SHAPLEIGH, ELLIS, WATSON AND DAVIS TO HOST PRESS CONFERENCE ON "CLEANING UP THE MESS" AT TCEQ
April 24, 2009

"Here's the agency created to protect our air, water and environment. After a decade under Rick Perry, TCEQ has been captured and corrupted by polluters. The time has come to clean up the mess at TCEQ."

Written by Senator Eliot Shapleigh, www.shapleigh.org

Capitol

AUSTIN - On Monday, April 27, 2009 at 10 a.m. in the Lt. Governor's Press room, Senators Eliot Shapleigh (D-El Paso), Rodney Ellis (D- Houston), Kirk Watson (D- Austin) and Wendy Davis (D- Fort Worth) will host a press conference on "cleaning up the mess" at the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ).

The commission has been the subject of multiple incidents related to protecting business interests— instead of fulfilling its duty to protect the state's human and natural resources.

"Here's the agency created to protect our air, water and environment. After a decade under Rick Perry, TCEQ has been captured and corrupted by polluters. The time has come to clean up the mess at TCEQ," Senator Shapleigh said.

"The TCEQ has an ethics problem, and it starts at the top. Instead of looking out for the people they are charged with protecting, top TCEQ officials have made a habit of ignoring that responsibility and giving carte blanche to big polluters. Unless we take steps now to ensure that TCEQ directors are not beholden to the very industries they are tasked with regulating, our citizens' health will be in jeopardy," Senator Davis said.

During Monday's press conference Senators Shapleigh, Ellis, Watson and Davis will:

- detail TCEQ's "Texas Report Card;"

- detail the commission's "revolving door" with polluting industries;

- discuss alleged incidents of ex parte communications between TCEQ officials and businesses they are charged with regulating; and

- discuss whether or not the commission will be ready to enforce new federal environmental regulations.

What: Senators Shapleigh, Ellis, Watson and Davis to host a press conference on "cleaning up the mess" at TCEQ

When: Monday, April 27, 2009 at 10 a.m.

Where: Lt. Governor's Press Room, Capitol Building, 2E.9

 

- End -

Click here to watch the full press conference.

 

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