In an article this morning, Katie McGinty – the Democrat’s establishment pick for Pennsylvania’s senate primary – attempts to fend off attacks from the left about her relationship with the oil and gas industry.
The story notes that McGinty is caught in a “tug-of-war” in the fracking debate.
But this isn’t the first time McGinty’s relationship with fracking has been questioned.
Earlier this week, McGinty’s primary opponent John Fetterman delivered a jab during an interview and today, Fetterman released a "Fact Check" web video highlighting an exchange from Sunday’s Democratic Forum where he questioned McGinty’s donations from the oil and gas industry.
McGinty has raked in nearly $20,000 from the oil and gas industry during her senate campaign so far. (Note: by the time McGinty’s 2014 gubernatorial campaign went belly-up with her last-place finish in the primary, she’d raised more than $530,000 from energy and natural resources companies.)
McGinty also came under fire in 2013 when a government watchdog report on Pennsylvania officials highlighted McGinty’s role at Element Partners and their investment in natural gas companies.
Similarly, in 2011, McGinty was criticized for her role on a Department of Energy advisory board while having financial ties to the fracking industry.
Read the DETAILS of Katie McGinty’s long relationship with fracking:
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VIDEO: On February 1, 2016, Fetterman Said His Campaign Does Not “Take Fracking Money Or Anything Like That From Fracking Companies.” FETTERMAN: “Certainly being out fundraised, I mean we are certainly not the establishment candidate and we don’t take fracking money or anything like that from fracking companies.” (WTAJ, 2/1/16)
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McGinty’s Campaign Has Received Almost $20,000 From The Oil And Gas Industry, Including “People Who Have Ties To Fossil-Fuel Extraction.” “America Rising, an opposition-research group with strong Republican ties, was also incredulous. ‘(E)stablishment favorite Katie McGinty lied’ in answering the question, the group contended in a statement today. Ms. McGinty’s most recent campaign-finance report ‘shows at least 17 donations from executives and employees in the oil and gas industry’ totaling almost $20,000 the group said. …Still, Ms. McGinty’s contributors do include people who have ties to fossil-fuel extraction. Most obviously, she received $5,400 last summer from the head of Philadelphia Energy Solutions, which operates an oil refinery in Philadelphia. And while she didn’t receive support from, say, the American Gas Association’s political committee, she did take $250 from a vice president there. Other contributors work at utility companies that provide natural gas to customers, even if they don’t pull the fuel from the ground itself.” (Chris Potter, “Did McGinty Blow Smoke On Fossil-Fuel Support?” Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 2/1/16)
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In February 2013, The Public Accountability Initiative Wrote A Report “Fracking And The Revolving Door In Pennsylvania” Documenting Pennsylvania’s Public Officials Cashing Out With Jobs In The Natural Gas And Oil Industry. “The oil and gas industry frequently argues that fracking means jobs. This appears to be especially true for former regulators and other public officials in Pennsylvania, many of whom have taken lucrative jobs working for the industry. This report documents the revolving door between government and the gas industry in Pennsylvania, where numerous top government officials and environmental regulators have either left their public jobs for careers in the oil and gas industry or come to government from the private sector. The report is based on extensive research on the career trajectories of dozens of public officials, with a focus on the executive branch and the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) in particular.” (“Fracking And The Revolving Door In Pennsylvania,” Public Accountability Initiative, February 2013)
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“The Following Are Major Findings From The Report: Pennsylvania’s Previous Three Governors Have Strong Ties To The Natural Gas Industry… Every Secretary Of Environmental Protection Since The DEP Was Created Has Had Ties To The Natural Gas Industry.” (“Fracking And The Revolving Door In Pennsylvania,” Public Accountability Initiative, February 2013)
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The Report Noted McGinty And Rendell’s Roles In Element Partners And The Company’s Investments In Several Companies In The Natural Gas Industry. “Currently, Rendell is an operating partner, along with his Secretary of Environmental Protection Kathleen McGinty, in Element Partners, a private equity firm that has investments in several companies in the natural gas industry, including: • 212 Resources, which builds and operates fluid management systems for recycling fracking wastewater • Agility Fuel Systems, which builds natural gas vehicle fueling systems • Environmental Drilling Solutions, which provides solids control services for oil & gas drillers.” (“Fracking And The Revolving Door In Pennsylvania,” Public Accountability Initiative, February 2013)
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In 2011, McGinty Served On The Secretary Of Energy’s Advisory Board Subcommittee On Shale Gas Production. (Department Of Energy, “Secretary Of Energy Advisory Board Subcommittee (SEAB) On Shale Gas Production Posts Draft Report,” Press Release, 11/10/11)
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McGinty Was Criticized For Having Financial Ties To The Natural Gas Industry While Holding A Position On The Subcommittee. “In a letter to Chu, 28 scientists complained that the committee, formally known as the Natural Gas Subcommittee of the Secretary of Energy Advisory Board, ‘appears to be performing advocacy-based science and seems to have already concluded that hydraulic fracturing is safe.’ The scientists ask Chu to replace Deutch ‘with a person with no financial ties to the natural gas and oil industry,’ as well as add ‘independent members’ to the committee… Other members of the committee said to have current financial ties to the natural gas and oil industry are Stephen Holditch, Kathleen McGinty, Susan Tierney, Daniel Yergin and Mark Zoback. The scientists said their ‘conflicts of interest make it appear that the subcommittee is designed to serve industry at taxpayer expense rather than serving President Obama and the public with credible advice.’” (Evan Bush, “U.S. Advisory Group On Fracking Has Abundant Ties To Energy Industry,” The Center For Public Integrity, 8/10/11)
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“Anti-Drilling Advocacy Groups Have Called The 12-Member Board A Sham, With A Heavy Tilt Toward The Industry That Will Inevitably Lead To Pro-Industry Rulings.” (Erich Schwartze, “DOE Reps Get The Local Word On Drilling,” Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 6/26/11)
- In 2011, The Environmental Working Group Criticized The Department Of Energy For Choosing Mostly Oil And Natural Gas “Industry Representatives” To Serve On The Natural Gas Subcommittee Of The Secretary Of Energy Advisory Board. “A leading environmental group has filed a Freedom of Information Act request with the US Department of Energy to disclose why it selected mostly oil and natural gas industry representatives to serve on a panel investigating the safety of hydraulic fracturing while denying membership to those affected by the shale gas drilling technology. The Environmental Working Group (EWG) said it is exploring whether the oil and gas industry influenced the Energy Department to select members who would produce a report favorable to the industry position that oil and gas drilling and fracking can be conducted with minimal threat to nearby communities and wilderness. EWG wants the panel to be expanded to include grassroots representatives from the areas directly affected by hydraulic fracturing and also independent experts.” (Paul Merolli, “Greens Sue Over What They See As Biased DOE Fracking Study Panel,” Natural Gas Week, 6/13/11)