For decades, under Democrat, Republican, and split control, the federal government has made consistent efforts, even inadvertently at times, to take power away from the states to then put in the hands of Congress and unelected bureaucrats in Washington D.C.

Citizens in Texas and across the country have taken notice. One statewide official in Texas heard the call for action and is now responding.

“We are facing a unique time in the history of our nation, especially regarding energy,” said Texas Railroad Commissioner Wayne Christian. “The United States is on track to surpass Saudi Arabia and Russia as the top producer of oil and gas in the world. This is an excellent opportunity for states to join together to work with the federal government to transcend partisan politics and correct misuses of federal regulatory power that have threatened our energy sector, the jobs it creates, and the economy of our states.”

On May 8, Christian put forth a resolution that was passed by the Interstate Oil and Gas Compact Commission (IOGCC) asking President Donald Trump and Congress to identify federal regulations that should be delegated back to the states.

According to Christian, the goal of the IOGCC resolution he put forth is to improve regulatory efficiency and effectiveness by working with the federal government to delegate powers back to the sovereign states. Copies of the resolution will be sent to Trump, Vice President Mike Pence, key administration officials, and Congressional officials to encourage them to help identify federal regulations that should be handled by the states.

The IOGCC is a multi-state government agency with the stated goal of “working to ensure our nation’s oil and natural gas resources are conserved and maximized while protecting health, safety, and the environment.” The IOGCC was created more than 80 years ago by six states joining together to resolve common issues and share best practices for industry regulation and minimizing federal intervention.

Christian was appointed by Gov. Greg Abbott as Texas’ official representative to the IOGCC in April of 2017.

You can read the resolution here.

 

Zach Maxwell

Zach Maxwell is a contributor to Texas Scorecard and leads the Texas Torchbearers. Raised in Cisco, he has worked in various positions in the legislature and on campaigns.

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