An Unwelcome Decision on Keystone

Statement

Another delay? Surprisingly, we aren't talking about Obamacare.

Last week the Obama Administration conveniently delayed a final decision on approval of the Keystone XL pipeline until after November's midterm elections. Despite vast support for the project by the American people, the President has continued to punt on the issue in an effort appease his environmentalist political allies. Now, key segments of the President's own political base are fed up with the Administration on the issue. A handful of notable Democrats are outraged at the Administration's "foot dragging" on Keystone. One labor group blasted the Administration stating, "It's not the oil that's dirty, it's the politics. Once again, the Administration is making a political calculation instead of doing what is right for the country."

The 1,700 mile pipeline, which would carry North American crude oil from Canada to refineries in the U.S., would also create tens of thousands of construction jobs for American workers and help to make our country more energy independent. But these obvious benefits, coupled with several State Department reports confirming limited adverse environmental effects from construction, are not enough evidence for the Administration, which has stalled the project for nearly six years.

It's well past time for the President to get serious about putting the nation back to work and boosting our stagnant economy. He can start by putting working class Americans ahead of radical far-left environmentalists and approve the pipeline.

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