Declarations

Zero Tolerance

“This is a zero tolerance state when it comes to fraud.”

—Ben Barnes, secretary of the Connecticut Office of Policy and Management, on the state’s efforts at fighting fraud, waste and abuse. The Connecticut government last month launched a new website, FightFraud.ct.gov, where state residents can report suspected wrongdoing in areas including workers’ comp, tax filings, health care, anti-trust violations and unfair competition.

Man-Made Disaster

Flint residents “deserve every resource available to make sure they have safe water and are able to recover from this terrible man-made disaster created by the state.”

—U.S. Rep. Dan Kildee, also a Michigan Democrat, comments on an emergency declaration signed by President Barack Obama that clears the way for federal aid for Flint, Mich., which is undergoing a drinking water crisis. The tap water in Flint, population 99,000, became contaminated after the city switched from the Detroit water system to the Flint River while a pipeline to Lake Huron is under construction.

Drone Expectations

“At no time was [the] plaintiff capturing video or still images of defendant or anyone on his property.”

—Statement in a lawsuit filed in Kentucky by drone owner John David Boggs against a homeowner who shot down the drone because he claimed it was hovering over his property. Boggs is seeking damages for the $1,800 drone and is asking the court to resolve the question of reasonable expectation of privacy among other issues.

O&G Still King

“We have every incentive to get it right.”

—William Colton, chief strategist, for Texas-based Exxon Mobil, comments on a company forecast that says the global energy landscape won’t be radically different in 2040 than it is today. According to the energy giant, oil and gas will remain king, accounting for an even slightly larger share of the energy supply. Coal will fall behind natural gas to become the third-largest.

Lax Gas Regs

“Up and down, the general consensus is that the regulations that exist in California are wholly insufficient.”

—Tim O’Connor, director of California oil and gas programs for the Environmental Defense Fund, took on regulation failures in the gas storage industry. His comments were brought on by a natural gas storage well that sprung a disastrous leak near Los Angeles, Calif.