Are Russians Secretly Backing US Enviros? Lawsuit Intends To Find Out

An open records lawsuit filed against the State Department is attempting to uncover whether Russian entities attempted to financially support U.S. environmentalist causes. The Institute for Energy Research (IER) — a free-market energy group based in Washington, D.C. — filed the lawsuit on Monday. IER has requested that the State Department hand over correspondence concerning hydraulic fracturing, environmental advocacy and Russia that was exchanged to and from high-ranking employees. The lawsuit follows a Freedom of Information Act request filed by IER back in October. However, the free-market group claims State Department officials are dragging their feet on providing the requested information. “Any foreign attempts to covertly influence U.S. energy policy must be exposed and met with full consequences,” read a Monday statement from IER President Thomas Pyle. “Particularly given what we have already learned, the State Department’s evident lack of interest in examining this issue of obvious concern to congressional oversight, or in bothering with a substantive response to our request even when pressed, is deeply concerning.”

The State Department failed to hand over responsive records to IER by Nov. 23, despite a legal obligation to do so, according to the free-market group’s press release. Department officials have cited a “backlog” as reason for their slow pace, and have only acknowledged receipt of the request. “We hope State corrects this matter immediately by providing the necessary records to document what has been happening behind the backs of the American people. The State Department must be clear: foreign meddling in U.S. energy policy or markets will not be tolerated under any circumstances,” Pyle continued in his statement.

The lawsuit follows mounting questions over Russian support of environmentalist groups that have opposed U.S. fracking. American officials confirmed back in 2017 that RT, a Kremlin-controlled media outlet, ran anti-fracking programming with an intent to protect Russian energy interests. Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton told an audience behind closed doors that Russia’s government was propping up “phony environmental groups” opposed to hydraulic fracturing and pipelines, according to emails released by Wikileaks in 2016. IER’s lawsuit also seeks to obtain correspondence from Texas Republican Rep. Lamar Smith who, as chair of the House Science Committee, has also made inquiries into the matter.

The U.S. shale oil boom has given Russia reason to worry. Moscow has long been able to wield its influence over European politics with the help of its vast natural gas supply. However, with more European nations turning to the U.S. for its natural gas needs, Russia has been slowly rendered less dominant. Thanks in large part to the implementation of hydraulic fracturing, the U.S. has reached record-levels of natural gas production.

https://www.dailycaller.com/2018/12/17/ier-russia-state-department-environment/

‘Boldy And Decisively’: Pelosi Promises Swift Action On ‘Commonsense’ Gun Control

Democrats will act “boldly” to bring “commonsense” gun control reforms to the table, Democratic House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi said in a statement. “The new Democratic majority will act boldly and decisively to pass commonsense, life-saving background checks that are overwhelmingly supported by the American people,” Pelosi said, Politico reported Monday.

With Pelosi’s support, Democrats coalesced to create a gun reform proposal that would require federal background checks on all gun sales, including private sales, Politico reported. Democratic California Rep. Mike Thompson, a Pelosi ally who says a bill for universal background checks will be introduced to Congress in early 2019, is spearheading the measure, according to Politico. “The American people want this. They’re way ahead of the Congress, they’re way ahead of the White House,” Thompson said, according to Politico. “I think you will see it happen in the first 100 days [of 2019].”

Democratic New York Rep. Jerrold Nadler, the incoming chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, also promised to act “very quickly” to push the measure onto the House floor. “We told the American voters that we do mean to do this, and we do mean to do it,” he told Politico.

The bill will have bipartisan support, according to Thompson, who refused to name GOP members who are set to sign on, but New York Republican Rep. Peter King indicated he will support it, Politico reported. Roughly 60 percent of Americans want stricter gun laws, according to an October Gallup poll.

The U.S. saw a number of mass shootings in 2018. Mass shootings killed scores of people at Borderline Bar and Grill in Thousand Oaks, California; Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida; Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh; and Santa Fe High School in Texas. Mass shootings in 2017, including the massacres at First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, Texas and Mandalay Bay Hotel in Las Vegas, also afflicted hundreds of victims and their families.

GOP North Carolina Rep. Richard Hudson calls universal background checks “a red herring,” noting “there’s not a single commercial gun transaction in America that doesn’t have a background check.” The National Rifle Association opposes “expanding firearm background check systems, because background checks don’t stop criminals from getting firearms,” according to its website. Gun control groups largely support the proposal. “The public has been demanding commonsense gun laws for years,” Everytown for Gun Safety president John Feinblatt said, Politico reported. “The public is ready for the Congress to act.” Everytown “is a movement of Americans working together to end gun violence and build safer communities,” according to its Twitter handle.

Democratic Connecticut Sen. Chris Murphy maintains Republicans will be forced to accept gun control if they want to make up the losses they suffered at the midterms. “Republicans can’t win the House back if their position on guns doesn’t change,” Murphy said, Politico reported. The measure is unlikely to pass in a Republican-controlled Senate.

https://www.dailycaller.com/2018/12/17/pelosi-commonsense-gun-control/

>>4353647

Indeed…time for exposure..