By Juan Montoya
For months – even years – District 37 Texas Representative Rene Oliveira has had it both ways.
On the one hand, he can say tell the Sierra Club he is a champion of the environment, and on the other he can give a nod and a wink to Big Oil and Gas for the construction of the liquified natural gas (LNGs) terminals at the Port of Brownsville.
At the same time, he had been pocketing money ($10,000 or more) from the LNGs.
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As a state representative, he is instrumental in guiding their efforts through the state's economic development bureaurcracy to make sure they get all the financial considerations and incentives they can.And they have been extremely generous in return, bestowing upon him $100,000s of dollars in gratitude. (See graphic, click to enlarge.)
The letter above clearly shows the tightrope that Oliveira has tried to walk between his constituents who worry the terminals will harm the environment and the industry which finances his lifestyle.
The Sierra Club has vigorously asserted that the terminals cannot be "constructed and operated in a safe and responsible manner..," quite in opposition to Oliveira's claim to the FERC.
And various coastal and seashore communities and entities have come out against the terminals such as the South Padre Island city council, the Point Isabel Independent School District, the Laguna Madre Water District, the Port Isabel city commission, and the Laguna Vista town council.
Yet, Oliveria told the Valley Morning Star that:
“As a longtime legislator from the Brownsville area, I can assure you that the project has strong support from the local community and its leaders,” wrote Oliveira, chairman for the House committee on business and industry."
http://www.valleymorningstar.com/news/local_news/five-companies-consider-liquefied-natural-gas-facilities/article_de5825f0-1877-11e5-ad1b-6b2015998059.html
Which Rene Oliveira are we going to believe?
Which Rene Oliveira are we going to believe?