Money from pro-fracking concerns is pouring into the Southern Tier congressional race between incumbent Republican Tom Reed and challenger Nate Shinagawa, the Democratic candidate said on MSNBC’s Up With Chris Hayes.

The roundtable appearance also included Assemblyman Hakeem Jeffries, a Brookyln Democrat who is running to succeed Rep. Ed Towns this fall. He does not does have a Republican opponent, but faces a Green Party candidate.

Discussion turned toward campaign finance and fundraising.

“I’m definitely seeing it already. The American Petroleum Institute is already sending mailers into the district,” Shinagawa said. “Other industry PACs and super PACs are sending money into the race.”

Reed is co-chair of the Marcellus Gas Shale Caucus, a coalition of lawmakers in Congress who support natural-gas exploration.

Hydrofracking is indeed an issue on both the state and federal level, but attention in New York for the last several months has focused on Gov. Andrew Cuomo and the state Department of Environmental Conservation’s long-awaited report on the feasibility of high-volume hydrofracking.

The state’s Marcellus Shale formation is believed to be rich in natural gas.

Cuomo has not given any indication as to whether he will allow permitting and regulation to move forward on high-volume fracking, and expected due dates floated in the press on the DEC’s report continue to be pushed back.

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