Lt. Gov. Walter Dalton supports Gov. Bev Perdue's vetoes of the state budget adjustments and a rewrite of the Racial Justice Act -- but not on the issue of natural gas drilling through fracking.
In an interview Monday, Dalton said lawmakers made concessions on the legislation establishing a framework for natural gas drilling in North Carolina. "It is a proactive step," he said. "It's not perfect; it's not what I would necessary want. But I would prefer seeing that put in place as we leave here than not having some time of regulatory process going forward."
His GOP rival Pat McCrory also expressed disappointment in Perdue's veto. McCrory -- a former Duke Energy employee whose campaign manager formerly worked for America's Natural Gas Alliance and whose law firm represents the state's leading fracking proponent, the N.C. Petroleum Council -- is a longtime supporter of drilling.
"... Governor Perdue and Lt. Governor Dalton have done nothing to advance energy exploration in North Carolina. Instead of political posturing and gamesmanship, we must demonstrate leadership to get North Carolina into the energy business and move forward with energy exploration and production," he said in a statement.
Here's Dalton's full comments from our interview on the fracking veto:
"I think that House did make some substantial concessions (on the fracking bill). It does initiate a regulatory process. It is a proactive step. It's not perfect; it's not what I would necessary want. But I would prefer seeing that put in place as we leave here than not having some time of regulatory process going forward."
Asked if the legislation has enough environmental safeguards -- as Perdue contends it does not -- Dalton said, "I think it has the potential to do that. I would prefer a little more with the issue of the ground water supply. Our own Department of Environment and Natural Resources indicates it can be done safely without damage to the ground water or the substructure of the earth. I had concerns with that and I still do but they say that is OK. What I've not seen addressed is the supply of groundwater because it takes a ton of water to do the fracking process. You're talking rural areas that have experienced drought. But if I read that correctly, they authorized that commission to look into that and I hope and think they will do that.
"Furthermore, there is some assurance that it would have to come back for further legislative action."
N.C. Republican Party Scott Laster later issued a statement: "Lt. Governor Dalton is pulling another move out of Governor Perdue's 2008 campaign playbook. After failing to distance himself from the Governor during the first debate, the Lt. Governor is trying desperately to distance himself from the unpopular current administration any way he can."
Comments
pair
July 2, 2012 - 9:33pm — mountainmanWally Dalton and Bev Perdue are two of a kind!!
Unemployment under Lt.
July 2, 2012 - 9:28pm — WilmingtonDemocratUnemployment under Lt. Governor Walter Dalton went down from close to 11% to 9%.
Under Pat McCrory's tenure it doubled for the City of Charlotte. Maybe because he follwed the policies of his hero George W. And we know what happend under George W. When he took office, unemployment was at 5% and the budget was balanced. When he left office in 2009, unemployment was at 9% and we were losing 700,000 jobs a month. His own Treasury secretary gave $750 billion in taxpayer money to the investment banks, many of whom have not paid us back like AIG.
Pat McCrory, George W - one of a kind!
mirror
July 2, 2012 - 8:19pm — mountainmanUnder Wally Dalton's tenure as Lt governor of North Carolina, the unemployment rate went up, and is still going up. If anyone knows what Wally accomplished in the last four years please post. I can't seem to find anything other than being Bev's right hand man.
Under Mayor McCrory's tenure
July 2, 2012 - 8:01pm — WilmingtonDemocratUnder Mayor McCrory's tenure as Mayor of Charlotte, the unemployment rate and the city of Charlotte's debt doubled.
Paid Blogger
July 2, 2012 - 7:18pm — mountainmanI see the Liberal Paid Blogger task force has arrived!!! I know you mostly stick to blind attacks and useless talking points that your handlers have instructed you to post, but if you can stray for just a moment and answer a few simple questions for all the voters who read this blog. The democrats have controlled this state for 100yrs--FACT. There have only been 2 republican governors, for a total of 12yrs in modern history of NC---FACT. In short North Carolina has been almost exclusively democratic controlled, so if the democrats have all the answers, why is the state so corrupt and in such a mess?? Shouldn't the state be perfect by now??? If Wally is the answer to all the state's problems, tell me something he has accomplished???He has been Lt Governor for nearly 4yrs. You bloggers pound McCrory about where he worked, do you actually think the voters believe that Wally is squeaky clean???? a career politician as pure a new fallen snow. No one is buying what your selling. This election is different than most, people are awake and will not be snowed bloggers with attacks and talking points. In my opinion, each time you post these same ole lame attacks, you hurt your candidate.
Remember that one of Pat
July 2, 2012 - 6:13pm — WilmingtonDemocratRemember that one of Pat McCrory's lobbying firms biggest client is the American Petroleum Institute. They pay Moore Van Allen tens of thousands of dollars to lobby the NC legislature for special oil and gas tax breaks. Wally may not be perfect but at least he is not a paid lobbyist for the oil and gas industry.
If it's up to Myers Park Pat , we will be swimming around oil rigs at Wrightsville Beach.
I mean Myers Park Pat works for the same group that tried to say the birds dying in oil slicks in Valdez Bay Alaska was partly made up by the liberal media.
Myers Park Pat, the oil and gas lobbyist who wants to be the next governor of NC!
McCrory is a hack loser from the most hated city in NC
July 2, 2012 - 5:14pm — AwesomeSuaceDoesn't really matter. I got one of Patty's surveys last night. On a two-point scale with "1" being I am Spider Man and "2" being you are a liberal fig....
So gross.
Remember when McCrory and Mitt were liberals that invented the Affordable Health Care Act.
What is the matter with Dalton?
July 2, 2012 - 4:21pm — NotaliberalSure he needs to distance himself from Perdue, but he chose the worst possible issue to start with. Dalton may be doomed, problem is with his opponent the rest of the state will also be doomed.
Has he actually read the DENR report?
July 2, 2012 - 3:40pm — mrhobbsThis is incredibly disappointing. Dalton needs to actually read the report from DENR.
He can find it here: http://portal.ncdenr.org/web/guest/denr-study
McCrory lies
July 2, 2012 - 2:19pm — morecornbreadGovernor Perdue's Executive Order 118 setting up a regulatory group for fracking remains in effect despite her veto and no matter what the General Assembly does.
It is absolutely possible to investigate fracking schemes without accepting wholesale the scheme the General Assembly passed.
Fracking? Really?
July 2, 2012 - 1:16pm — kimincsuDalton just loss my vote.
AgentPierce says what about Trolling?
July 2, 2012 - 12:36pm — AwesomeSuaceI mean really.
Wally's not planning to.....
July 2, 2012 - 12:32pm — AgentPierceObviously Wally is not planning on moving back to Chapel Hill in January like Ms Perdue-Eaves must do, so Wally can troll for votes.
Dumplin' is trolling for someone to be her friend come January.