Will House Dems Challenge President Obama to Put 130,000 Keystone Jobs Before Politics?

January 3, 2012

FYI, a similar version of this release below went out to the following districts: Jason Altmire (PA-04), John Barrow (GA-12), Sanford Bishop (GA-02), Tim Bishop (NY-01), Leonard Boswell (IA-03), Bruce Braley (IA-01), Lois Capps (CA-24), Russ Carnahan (MO-03), Kathy Castor (FL-11), Ben Chandler (KY-06), David Cicilline (RI-01), Gerry Connolly (VA-11), Jim Cooper (TN-05), Jim Costa (CA-21), Mark Critz (PA-12), Peter DeFazio (OR-04), John Garamendi (CA-03), Raul Grijalva (AZ-07), Brian Higgins (NY-27), Jim Himes (CT-04), Ruben Hinojosa (TX-15), Kathy Hochul (NY-26), Tim Holden (PA-17), Rush Holt (NJ-12), Steve Israel (NY-02), Bill Keating (MA-09), Ron Kind (WI-03), Larry Kissell (NC-08), Rick Larsen (WA-02), David Loebsack (IA-02), Jim Matheson (UT-02), Carolyn McCarthy (NY-04), Mike McIntyre (NC-07), Jerry McNerney (CA-09), Michael Michaud (ME-02), Brad Miller (NC-13), Bill Owens (NY-23), Frank Pallone (NJ-06), Ed Perlmutter (CO-07), Gary Peters (MI-09), Collin Peterson (MN-07), Chellie Pingree (ME-01), David Price (NC-04), Nick Rahall (WV-03), Loretta Sanchez (CA-46), Kurt Schrader (OR-05), Heath Shuler (NC-11), Adam Smith (WA-09), Betty Sutton (OH-16), John Tierney (MA-06), Paul Tonko (NY-21), Niki Tsongas (MA-03), Pete Visclosky (IN-01), Tim Walz (MN-01), John Yarmuth (KY-03)

Will Shuler Challenge President Obama to Put 130,000 Keystone Jobs Before Politics?
Democrats Under Increasing Pressure from Radical Activist Base to Kill the Keystone XL Pipeline’s 130,000 Potential Jobs

Washington — North Carolina Democrat Heath Shuler’s Washington party leaders now have less than 60 days to decide on whether they will bend to the anti-energy and anti-jobs activists who voted them into office. The widely popular Keystone XL pipeline project would provide North American energy and potentially create up to 130,000 associated jobs, which is why Shuler should call upon President Obama to approve these high-quality jobs and reject radical activists who would gladly see hundreds of thousands of jobs destroyed.

“If Heath Shuler truly wants to put jobs first, he would urge President Obama and his Democrat leaders in Washington to reject the demands of radical activists and support common-sense job creation efforts like the Keystone XL pipeline project,” said NRCC Communications Director Paul Lindsay. “Shuler and his fellow Democrats have less than 60 days to decide whether or not to cave to their party’s radical anti-energy base while up to 130,000 potential jobs hang in the balance.”

The union-backed Keystone XL pipeline project would immediately create 20,000 jobs and lead to an estimated 130,000 associated jobs:

“Many of those 20,000 jobs on the construction of the pipeline would have been filled by skilled union members. Eventually, the completed pipeline was expected to result in as many as 130,000 jobs…” (Editorial, “Keystone pipeline delay is the wrong call,” Houston Chronicle, 11/11/10)

Now President Obama has less than 60 days to weigh in on the pipeline after attempting to stall it until next year:

“Republicans did claim a major victory, winning a provision that would require Obama to make a swift decision on whether to approve construction of the Canada-to-Texas Keystone XL oil pipeline, which could generate thousands of construction jobs. To stop construction, Obama, who had wanted to put the decision off until after the 2012 election, would have to declare it was not in the nation’s interest.” (Andrew Taylor, “Tax cut survives: Congress votes holiday approval,” Associated Press, 12/23/11)

But the Democrats’ radical anti-energy activist base will pull out all the stops to oppose these jobs:

“For greens, the fact that the Keystone pipeline was back on the table five weeks after Obama had seemingly punted it until 2013 is causing considerable heartburn with an administration that hasn’t been as green as they once wished.

“Their initial win looked even better because it came just days after thousands circled the White House at a weekend protest that drew celebrity faces like actor Mark Ruffalo. But now Obama’s environmental allies again face the question of whether to withhold support for his reelection campaign.” (Darren Samuelsohn, “Greens call out Keystone XL deal,” Politico, 12/16/11)

If Heath Shuler really wants to put job-creation first, he should urge his Democrat leaders in Washington to take a stand and approve this common-sense project. The clock is now ticking for Shuler and his fellow Democrats to decide where their priorities lie.

Will House Dems Challenge President Obama to Put 130,000 Keystone Jobs Before Politics? http://ow.ly/8gPQQ #madeinwdc

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