During a very engaging debate tonight held at the Denton City Council Chambers, the three Congressional candidates expressed their views on issues from the economy to gas drilling environmental issues.

Congressman Burgess again avoided the true issue for addressing environmental and health concerns around gas drilling in the Barnett Shale.  He blames the Democrats for not recently passing the Frac Act.

1. Burgess however did not mention that he will specifically not support the Frac Act if it comes to a vote.   At the Senate level, bills now require 60 votes to pass, so the bill would require Republican support as well even if Democrats voted for the bill.

2. Burgess also failed to mention that he voted in favor of the Halliburton Loophole as part of the Energy Policy Act of 2005.  The Loophole exempts hydraulic fracturing from the Clean Drinking Water Act and enables companies not to disclose the water and air pollutants in frac fluid.

Neil Durrance would support the enforcement of the Clean Air and Clean Water Acts for the gas drilling process.  Durrance would also make it a priority to speed up the EPA study on hydraulic fracturing. Burgess dismissed this possibility.  Although Burgress states he is concerned about this issue and is pushing for better oversight by the TCEQ,  he dodges the fact that he was part of the original problem that has only gotten worse since 2005.