It’s a strange dichotomy within the Democratic ranks. Some Democrats claim that the oil and gas industry hasn’t been regulated in 1,000 or maybe it’s 50 or maybe it’s 30 years. Other Democrats, like former Democratic Governor John Hickenlooper, believe they held the industry accountable. Well, which is it?

Here’s a quote from a Denver Post article earlier today:

“Opponents of a bill that would overhaul how oil and gas are regulated in Colorado charge that the legislation is being rushed through the legislature. Josh Joswick’s reaction: Thirty years isn’t rushing it.”

If you ask the industry, they would say that Hick, for all of his other failings in leadership (see: Nathan Dunlap) was pretty tough on oil and gas in the state. In addition, former Governor Bill Ritter also believes he held the oil and gas industry accountable.

Why doesn’t this new generation of Democratic electeds think either of these so-called leaders were part of any kind of oil and gas reform? What exactly defines reform of oil and gas in Colorado and why do “keep it in the ground” folks get to determine what reform is? And why don’t mainstream (probably now known as “Democrats in Name Only”) Democrats get credit for their regulatory efforts?

We think the media ought to be asking these questions. But it seems that they’re not.

All of this comes to a head because the new Feelin’ the Bern House Democrats are in a hearing tonight about a bill that could radically change – if not destroy – Colorado’s oil and gas industry. Of course, the real tragedy here is that oil and gas workers showed up by the hundreds in defense of their livelihoods and Democrats in the House Committee on Energy and the Environment were so cold-hearted that it won’t cause a single one to change their vote.