We've Established What Kind Of Person You Are... [View all]

[Laxman]

Last edited Fri Feb 27, 2015, 05:11 PM - Edit history (2)

now we're just negotiating price. Chris Christie once again proves that he will do or say anything to promote himself. He's also shown that one of the most valuable investments you can make is a donation to the Republican Governor's Association. ExxonMobil has taken full advantage of that investment opportunity.

DU'er Keepitreal started this thread this afternoon http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1014&pid=1024919 about the news that the Christie Administration has settled a major environmental damage claim for less than three cents on the dollar. Exxon Mobil Settles $9 Billion New Jersey Environmental Case for $250 Million: http://www.nytimes.com/2015/02/28/nyregion/exxon-mobil-settles-with-new-jersey-over-environmental-damage.html?_r=0 This is wrong on so many grounds it's hard to know where to begin.

Let's start with the fact that one of the largest donors to the RGA under Christie's leadership was Exxon Mobil http://www.opensecrets.org/527s/527cmtedetail_contribs.php?ein=113655877 It's a miracle (a miracle I tell ya!) that Exxon gets themselves a sweet deal on a law suit where liability wasn't even in question. I believe that's called a Quid pro quo. ExxonMobil polluted about 1,500 acres of marshes, wetlands, water and meadows in NJ.

Next let's consider that Christie's Attorney General Paula Dow who will be putting her signature on this settlement was at one time a regulatory affairs counsel for-drum roll please-ExxonMobil! (how many guesses did it take for you to get it?) But hey, there's nothing to see here, is there? Hey they put it right on the state's web site so it must be O.K.

Prior to joining the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Dow worked from 1980 through 1987 as an attorney for Exxon Company, U.S.A. in Texas, New Jersey and New York. In that capacity she advised clients on exploration and production, environmental and labor matters, and regulatory compliance issues.

And if the Paula Dow connection wasn't enough to make you gag, consider that Exxon Mobil's lobbying firm, Public Strategies Impact, employs a fellow by the name of Lout Goetting. Mr. Goetting used to work for-take a guess-You got it, Chris Christie, as his Deputy Chief of Staff! Quod est en Loco! (the fix is in). You just can't make this stuff up!

There are clean-up costs involved and an actual valuation of the land that ExxonMobil damaged. Consider the following from NJ's own Department of Environmental Protection's Natural Capital Report:

New Jersey is blessed with a wealth of breathtaking and highly valuable natural resources. Our beaches, forests, wetlands and other natural resources provide countless benefits to the public. In order to make wise policy, planning, and regulatory decisions, it is important to understand the worth of these resources. This report summarizes the results of a two-year study that aims to quantify the value of these resources. As a way of expressing the value, it estimates the dollar value of the services and goods produced by New Jersey’s natural capital. Natural capital consists of components of the natural environment that provide long-term benefits to society. Many of the benefits provided by natural capital come from ecological systems or ecosystems, a dynamic complex of plant, animal, and microorganism communities and their nonliving environment, all interacting as a functional unit. Forests, wetlands, and lakes are examples of ecosystems.

Read more here: http://www.nj.gov/dep/dsr/naturalcap/

These natural resources have a substantial value, unless of course, the entity that destroyed them is a major donor to the RGA. Environmental damage is expensive and difficult to remediate. Holding polluters accountable financially for their actions is the only way we can even hope to attempt to clean up contamination. Christie has proven that he is always willing to sell out the people of NJ, especially in the case of environmental damage. He settled a major suit over contamination of the Passaic River in similar fashion for pennies on the dollar about a year ago. Not only did he sell out the state in that lawsuit, he diverted the money to the general budget and is allowing a less than complete clean up to occur. Looks like the same thing is happening here. A $9 billion bill settled for $250 million! Now there's a sweet deal. I'd be willing to bet even money that this settlement will also end up covering one of Christie-the Financial Genius' budget shortfalls instead of cleaning up ExxonMobil's mess that generations of NJ residents will have to live with. But hey, if it helps Christie get ahead-we can make a deal.

So yes Mr. Christie we've established what kind of person you are-but we don't even need to haggle over price. The price is right there on the OpenSecrets web site for everyone to see. (Are you looking Mr. Fishman?) It's bad enough that you've already sold yourself (although who in their right mind would pay for you?) but now you're selling out everyone who lives in NJ. Thank you for proving that no matter how low our expectations for you might be-you're always capable of going a bit lower.