Regulatory failure is a breach of public trust

Re: “Audit: State fails to regulate pipelines,” June 14 news story

Surprise, surprise. I’m a fool. I thought regulatory agencies in Colorado actually regulated. Reading Seth Klamann’s excellent article in The Post about the Gas Pipeline Safety Program (and thanks to Rep. Tammy Story, who requested an audit, and Jenny Page, audit manager in the office of state auditor), it turns out that the program is just a joke; nada.

Colorado residents are supposed to be protected. We have not been for years. The gas pipeline companies? Free as birds to flout regulations. Who gets hurt? We do.

It makes me wonder about all the other state regulatory agencies. I always thought that my tax dollars were doing some good. I was wrong. If the governor’s office and legislature cared, they would have done something about it long ago. The next time the government asks for more money, fugetabout it. You want my money? Earn it.

— Steve Billig, Denver

This may be the most shocking information about a state regulatory agency not doing its job that Colorado residents have ever seen. Third from last in required inspections in USA?

Does this audit reflect incompetence, corruption, laziness, horrid management or all of the above? People died because of a lack of enforcement of federal and state laws.

Shame on all of them, no more whining about “trying” now to fix what they’ve known to be unlawful all along. Where’s oversight by the legislature been for so many years? How will it and the governor react now?

In any case, it appears there needs to be major housecleaning at that agency, starting at the top, at once. Who can or will lead that necessary effort? I hope The Post will continue to report on egregious behaviors in an agency that’s been trusted, and so overlooked for years.

— Margy Robertson,

Monte Vista