Boulder Congressman Jared Polis, the 7th richest member of Congress, told a Colorado Association of Commerce and Industry panel today that residents in his district are not interested in jobs in the energy economy.
As reported by the Denver Business Journal‘s estimable Ed Sealover on Twitter:
Polis has been feuding with the oil and gas industry recently, after a neighbor to one of his vacation properties sold their mineral rights to an oil company that began drilling. The Congressman sued to stop the drilling from occurring because he claimed it, among other things, “caus[ed] mental suffering, annoyance and the loss of use and enjoyment” of his vacation property.
He even went so far as to claim his family were turned into “refugees” due to his neighbor exercising their mineral rights.
What makes this latest statement from the spoiled Congressman even more tone deaf is the fact that Polis has had millions of his own money invested in the oil and gas industry.
Apparently it’s okay for him to make money off of fracking, but not his constituents?
UPDATE: Congressman Polis weighs in, saying he wants oil and gas money in his district, just not the jobs. Oh, and he incorrectly thinks Broomfield doesn’t have fracking going on.
@ESealoverDenBiz @copeakpolitics we would love for those making money from oil & gas to live in pristine & #frackfree Boulder County
— Jared Polis (@jaredpolis) August 28, 2013
@ESealoverDenBiz @copeakpolitics Boulder, Larimer, Broomfield = great and safe places to raise a family
— Jared Polis (@jaredpolis) August 28, 2013
But, as Denver Post reporter Jeremy Meyer noted, fracking is going on in Broomfield County.
@jaredpolis @ESealoverDenBiz @copeakpolitics Broomfield council just OK’d drilling 21 wells under new regs. http://t.co/X6jJ9Aaa3m
— Jeremy Meyer (@jpmeyerDPost) August 28, 2013
UPDATE 2: It’s worth noting Polis’s position puts him to the left of even the extreme left-wing Congresswoman Diana DeGette:
So far, everyone on Colo delegation, inc. @RepDianaDeGette, says they support fracking. Still waiting for @jaredpolis to answer this one.
— Ed Sealover (@ESealoverDenBiz) August 28, 2013
Mr. Polis, I'm sorry you feel threatened by others who may someday have a comfortable income due to the oil/gas industry and then you won't have any power over them. Your millions might get used up in frivolous lawsuits to 'get your way'. I'm so sorry for your small, power-hungry, inequitable mind.
Spend to much time in DC, return home with severe cranial rectal inversion!!!
Sorry Mr. Polis. I live in the 7th District, have worked in the Oil and Gas Industry for many years and totally support drilling in Colorado. Grow up, the rest of us need the jobs and income from this industry.
I did not vote for Jared Polis. I will not vote for Jared Polis. He is arrogant, egotistical, pompous, condescending, and a disgrace to the entire State of Colorado.
Like almost everyone else in Congress, my Congressman Jared Polis is an extremist on a number of issues, including fracking, climate change, environmentalism, base ball and taking care of number one—himself.
Cut off all the power lines too. Much of Xcel's power for the Denver / Boulder area comes from the St Vrain Power Generation plant in Platteville, in Weld County. We don't mind, they are buying natural gas produced in Weld County. We like the tax money.
Kevin Cullis As I said, Polis doesn't care about the little people. He doesn't need to.
Pyro T Rob Polis is out of touch. Why? Because he doesn't get that rising energy prices hurt the poor the most, so why should he care, he's safe?
Sorry to tell you Jared but I am a 2nd district constituent and I support Fracking and "The real energy" economy. You moonbat tree huggers from The Peoples Republic of Boulder can all put as many windmills and solar panels up around your homes as you want but leave my carbon energy alone.
If he doesn't want energy jobs in his district, cut off all the gas lines to his district, no gas stations either.
With his wealth, he doesn't care what the cost of the energy will be. If his heating bill for his executive condo on the Mall is $1000/mo, it's no skin off his butt. If the heat bill for his Weld County 'retreat' is $2000/month, he doesn't care.
He also does not care where the power comes from, as long as it is not in his backyard.
He probably only polled Democrats, skewing the results.
I assume Mr. Polis does not use carbon energy to heat and cool his house, and that he lives in the dark once the sun goes down.