Keystone XL Rides Shotgun On State Of The Union Night
For four years, environmentalists and oil tycoons alike have waited impatiently for a definitive answer from President Obama regarding the Keystone XL pipeline extension. They got their answer today in the State of the Union Address.
“Twenty-first century businesses need 21st century infrastructure — modern ports, stronger bridges, faster trains and the fastest Internet. Democrats and Republicans used to agree on this. So let’s set our sights higher than a single oil pipeline.”
Obama has been signaling that he is likely to veto the bill since early January.
In response to President Obama’s address, environmental advocacy group 350.org Executive Director May Boeve issued the following statement:
“Tonight’s speech puts wind in the sails of Keystone XL opponents. President Obama laid out a clear case for climate action, and hit back hard against those who are sticking their heads in the sand. He said we need to think beyond a single pipeline, and made a strong case for developing sustainable, clean energy sources like wind and solar. The President is clearly beginning to think about his climate legacy, and he clearly understands that it depends on rejecting Keystone XL.”
Environmentalists can breathe a little, but Republicans are not taking the dismissal of the pipeline lightly.
Freshman Senator Joni Ernst delivered the Republican response:
“President Obama has been delaying this bipartisan infrastructure project for years, even though many members of his party, unions, and a strong majority of Americans support it. The President’s own State Department has said Keystone’s construction could support thousands of jobs and pump billions into our economy, and do it with minimal environmental impact.
We worked with Democrats to pass this bill through the House. We’re doing the same now in the Senate. President Obama will soon have a decision to make: will he sign the bill, or block good American jobs?”
How many jobs would be blocked exactly? NEWSWEEK and other sources reported last year that the Keystone XL Pipeline would only create 35 permanent jobs.
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By: Sarah Betancourt
Sarah Betancourt is a Boston-based journalist who has written for In These Times, Open Media Boston, Spare Change News, Boston.com, the Boston Globe Environment Blog, and has had work appear in video on the National Geographic Water Currents Blog. She writes primarily about Boston politics, labor, Generation Y issues, and environmental policy.
8 responses to Keystone XL Rides Shotgun On State Of The Union Night
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Suzanne McFly January 21st, 2015 at 06:47
From what I understand, people who are fighting to not lose their land by eminent domain are taking their fight to court which will take a couple of years. So even if this bill gets passed, nothing can happen until the court settles this case and the right is simply lying when they say President Obama is holding up this great jobs creator.
edmeyer_able January 21st, 2015 at 09:18
Except that Transcanada has just acquired the rights to what they need to complete their land grab in Nebraska, …..cause corporations are people my friend….even if they’re from Canada.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/01/20/transcanada-eminent-domain_n_6511456.html?utm_hp_ref=tw
Suzanne McFly January 21st, 2015 at 17:26
That won’t be instant either, I am pretty sure there is some type of legal process that will be required for this to be approved.
Suzanne McFly January 21st, 2015 at 07:47
From what I understand, people who are fighting to not lose their land by eminent domain are taking their fight to court which will take a couple of years. So even if this bill gets passed, nothing can happen until the court settles this case and the right is simply lying when they say President Obama is holding up this great jobs creator.
edmeyer_able January 21st, 2015 at 10:18
Except that Transcanada has just Filed to acquire the rights to what they need to complete their land grab in Nebraska, …..cause corporations are people my friend….even if they’re from Canada.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/01/20/transcanada-eminent-domain_n_6511456.html?utm_hp_ref=tw
Suzanne McFly January 21st, 2015 at 18:26
That won’t be instant either, I am pretty sure there is some type of legal process that will be required for this to be approved.
mea_mark January 21st, 2015 at 09:19
At best the KXL will provide the same number of jobs Obama’s recovery is bringing in evrery 5 days and those jobs it does bring in will only last for 2 years. KXL is no saviour, it is nothing more than a big fat piece of pork for the Koch brothers to fatten themselves on. We need Joni Ernest to go after the KXL and castrate it. I know, it won’t happen but she has the right rhetoric coming out of her mouth.
mea_mark January 21st, 2015 at 10:19
At best the KXL will provide the same number of jobs Obama’s recovery is bringing in evrery 5 days and those jobs it does bring in will only last for 2 years. KXL is no saviour, it is nothing more than a big fat piece of pork for the Koch brothers to fatten themselves on. We need Joni Ernest to go after the KXL and castrate it. I know, it won’t happen but she has the right rhetoric coming out of her mouth.