Off our aquifer bend (for now), we read a Common Dreams newswire about upcoming Senate and House legislation that will make the permitting process much faster for industries. According to a Public Citizen (no, we didn’t vote for Nader) report, Texas already has a very speedy process for air, water and hazardous waste permits.

â??Public Citizenâ??s report shows the process in Texas is working effectively, on average not taking longer than the states we compete with for economic development, and we provide similar public participation opportunities as other states,â?? Oâ??Brien said. â??The changes to the stateâ??s permitting process proposed in the State Legislature would alter the balance of this equation. They set Texas apart, primarily in ways that reduce effective citizen participation. They would not necessarily make a more efficient process.
â??There are likely ways to improve the permitting process in Texas, but the state should base any process to make changes to permitting procedures on a consensus reached among all stakeholders â?? including the public â?? and not on politically motivated legislation promoted by some industries. Any changes or â??improvementsâ?? should not include reducing the rights of Texans to participate effectively in the permitting process.â??

The bills proposing to help polluting industries (well, not in so many words) are HB2758 and SB1542. We here at PinkDome are so glad that Sen. Armbrister is doing his best to help those poor companies. If he doesn’t look out for them, who will?