House Dems Still Silent as White House Moves to Block Thousands of Keystone Manufacturing Jobs

January 10, 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), 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), John Yarmuth (KY-03)

Garamendi Still Silent as White House Moves to Block Thousands of Keystone Manufacturing Jobs
California Democrat Should Stand Up for State’s 1,242,300 Manufacturing Workers and Urge Obama Administration to Support Keystone XL Pipeline Jobs

Washington — Manufacturing is a crucial industry in California, which is why John Garamendi’s constituents in California would expect him to support the manufacturing industry when job creation is a top priority. However, Garamendi has so far remained silent as President Obama and his Democrat leaders in Washington lean toward killing the thousands of jobs the Keystone XL pipeline project would create under constantly increasing pressure from radical anti-energy activists unconcerned about job creation.

“With so many manufacturing workers in California, it should be a simple choice for John Garamendi to support job creation in the manufacturing sector whenever he can,” said NRCC Communications Director Paul Lindsay. “But Garamendi’s silence is only making it easier for President Obama to appease wealthy anti-energy activist donors by rejecting the skilled manufacturing jobs the Keystone XL pipeline project would create.”

The California economy boasts 1,242,300 manufacturing workers currently, making it an important industry and driver of much-needed job creation. (“State Manufacturing & Trade Data,” National Association of Manufacturers, Accessed 1/9/12)

The National Association of Manufacturers is among the many groups supporting the Keystone XL pipeline project because of the jobs and secure energy it provides:

“Not only will the pipeline provide increased energy security, it will also create much-needed manufacturing and construction jobs. TransCanada estimates that 20,000 well-paying jobs will be created in 2011-2012 should this project move forward. In addition, the project will provide an estimated $5.2 billion in tax revenue to the Keystone XL corridor states. Pipeline construction will also boost the economy in the corridor states by generating additional private sector investment in food, lodging, fuel, vehicles, equipment, construction and services.” (Chip Yost, “Re: Comments on Keystone XL Project – Final Environmental Impact Statement,” National Association of Manufacturers, 10/7/11)

Job creation is absolutely critical to getting the American economy back on track, which is why Democrat leaders should be promoting it instead of shutting it down:

“But even with consistent improvements in the labor market during recent months, too many people are still out of work or underemployed to accelerate the pace of consumer spending — a crucial 70 percent of economic activity.” (Vicki Needham, “Economists: Weak job growth holding back consumer spending,” The Hill‘s On The Money Blog, 1/9/12)

With just 42 days left for Washington Democrat leaders to decide the fate of thousands of manufacturing jobs, John Garamendi should demonstrate he sides with job creation given the importance of manufacturing in California. If Garamendi remains silent, he will only be helping wealthy activist donors receive their political payback at the cost of American manufacturing jobs.

House Dems Still Silent as White House Moves to Block Thousands of Keystone Manufacturing Jobs http://ow.ly/8osPW #madeinwdc

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