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Ross Kaminsky of the Rossputin blog has a good article up at Human Events which is worth your time.

Human Events

We in Colorado have just suffered through a 2009 legislative session, wrapped up last week, which resembled an intense microcosm of what’s happening in D.C.
Under the (lack of) leadership of Governor Bill Ritter, the Democrats passed some truly bad legislation but also failed to pass some, with Republican opposition able to convince just enough “moderate” Democrats to break away from what are generally party line votes
In April, Ritter signed HB1292 which made into law new regulations regarding oil and gas drilling, rules which the Colorado Oil & Gas Association described as “the most costly and burdensome” in the country.  COGA has filed a lawsuit against the measure alleging that the Department of Natural Resources staff intentionally understated the regulations’ costs to the industry and to taxpayers.

Pressure for the new rules came from environmental groups, and the rules give the Division of Wildlife substantial influence over whether a drilling permit will be approved. Approval can be withheld if there is a complaint that the drilling might pose “a material threat to wildlife resources,” the subsequent investigation of which could take months. 
Says State Sen. Greg Brophy, “Ritter took final action in his long campaign to destroy the oil and gas industry. If there were any other industry struggling like the oil and gas industry, the state government would reach out its hand and ask: ‘How can we help?’ Instead this governor shoves them over the cliff.”