The more drilling you do, the more likely you are to wind up with the clap. Right?

It sounds logical until you discover that the drilling has to do with natural gas and the statement was made by a Pennsylvania politician who is concerned that the industry boom is going to increase the spread of STDs “amongst the womenfolk.” Michael Sturla, a Democratic state representative from Lancaster County, made the remarks to a reporter in an email in which he didn’t sound too happy about the influx of drill workers into the community.

An AP piece quoted Sturla’s email to Capitolwire. In part he said: “… aside from building roads so their trucks can get to drill sites and doing a little stream work to mitigate damage from their road building, exactly what are all those things the drillers are doing for the local communities? Patronizing the bars at night? Driving up the cost of rental housing? Spreading sexually transmitted disease amongst the womenfolk?”

A slightly-later AP story notes that Sturla was “apparently citing testimony by Troy Community Hospital from May that says among its experiences with the influx of drilling crews is an increase in sexually transmitted diseases.”

Well, if you’re gonna frack around you really should be safe about it.

The Morning Call in Allentown, Penn., reports that Sturla apologized for the “womenfolk” term. Am I the only one who thinks it’s kinda cute? Dunno what in tarnation the ruckus is about. It’s better than “bitches” any day.