Senate Bill 1132, which would have imposed a moratorium on hydraulic fracturing of oil and gas wells, failed May 28th in an 18-16 vote, three short of the 21 votes needed for approval. Four Democrats voted against it, and three more Democrats abstained.

The bill had been proposed by Sen. Holly Mitchell, D-Los Angeles, and Mark Leno, D-San Francisco, who argued that the measure would “pause” the technique that has been opposed by environmental activists.

Opponents of the measure noted that California last year passed a law to regulate fracking.

Sen. Andy Vidak, R-Hanford, said, “In Kern County, we have been safely fracking for decades,” and that “SB 1132 would lead to a heavy reduction of jobs.”

The California Chamber of Commerce had called SB 1132 a “job killer” that would place California businesses at a disadvantage, increase fuel cost, impede job growth and suppress property, income and excise tax revenues.