Sen. Cornyn: Oil and gas programs are 'poverty killer'
LAREDO, TEXAS -- U.S. Sen. John Cornyn called UISD’s (Laredo United) oil and gas program and programs like it “a poverty killer” during Friday afternoon’s Oil, Gas and Energy Summit.
The summit brought several city and county leaders, as well as experts and advocates of the Eagle Ford Shale play, to United High School’s library for a roundtable discussion.
Cornyn’s comment came in response to a question about how oil and gas programs would affect Webb County’s poverty rate, which was at 30.6 percent in 2012, according to U.S. census data.
“I would say together with what’s happening here in terms of the oil and gas industry and where Mexico appears to be going on the other side of the border, this is going to be a huge boom to the whole region,” Cornyn said.
http://www.lmtonline.com/articles/2014/03/01/front/news/doc53112b315c887076469490.txt (Laredo Morning Times)
[font color=green]Cornyn's statement is true for those that find work in the oil & gas exploration industry. However, for those that are not involved in those industries or living on a fixed income the oil boom is devastating since rental rates and increased property appraisals affecting property taxes.
In addition, everyone is affected since the roads in the Eagle Ford Shale area deteriorated substantially and vehicle owners are paying for more frequent repair bills.[/font]
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