Gas drillers encounter Senate opposition

BOISE (AP) — Idaho senators raised concerns about the oil and gas industry's effort to limit county governments' control over drilling projects, on grounds industry and House supporters exerted undue pressure on local governments to cooperate.

The bill cleared the House on a partisan 54-13 vote in mid-February; victory appeared assured.

But then came tough questions Wednesday from Senate Resources Committee members.

The Spokesman-Review (http://bit.ly/iRcJJ) reports Republican Sen. Dean Cameron wanted to know why the Idaho Association of Counties supports the bill, which would cede most local control over gas drilling projects to the state.

A lobbyist for the county group, Kerry Ellen Elliott, told Cameron bluntly that if they didn't go along, counties were told they were not going to have any local control at all.

A vote was delayed until Friday.