Obama
President Barack Obama , Congress begin 2012 in oil pipeline dispute: President Barack Obama and Congress begin the election year locked in a tussle over a proposed 1,700-mile (2,735 kilometer) oil pipeline from Canada to Texas that will force the White House a politically risky choice to make between two major democratic constituencies.Some trade unions say that the Keystone XL pipeline would create thousands of jobs. Environmentalists fear that it may lead to an oil spill disaster. Obama enjoyed strong support from both groups in his winning 2008 campaign for the White House.
Obama signed a law just before Christmas that has been temporarily extended the withholding tax cut included a Republican-written provision compelling him to take a rapid decision — within 60 days — on the construction of the pipeline. The Administration is warning that it would rather say no then rush a decision in an election year.The pipeline would carry oil from tar sands in Western Canada to refineries in Texas, Montana, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas and Oklahoma pass. Of the project developer, Calgary-based Trans Canada, says that the pipeline could lead a whopping 20,000 jobs, a figure opponents say is bloated. A State Department report last summer said the pipeline would make 6,000 jobs during construction.
Environmental advocates, already disappointed with Obama failure to meet the climate change legislation and the Administration decision to slow down new smog standards, have made it clear that the approval of the pipeline would dampen their enthusiasm for him in the November elections.Some liberal donors threatened to cut off funds to the Obama re-election campaign to protest against the project, which opponents say “dirty oil” would transport that requires huge amounts of energy to extract.If he, the pipeline threatens Obama support of organized labor, an essential part of the democratic base, losing thousands of jobs for frustrates rejects.
Obama seemed to have the issue last month when the US State Department announced that it was postponing a decision on the pipeline until after the 2012 election skirted. Officials said that they needed extra time to study routes that an ecologically sensitive area of Nebraska that provides water to eight States avoid.The new route would have to be approved by Nebraska environmental officials and the State Department, which has jurisdiction because the pipeline would be an international border.
A “random term” for the permit decision would compromise the process, the time needed to perform required environmental assessments, warned the State Department in a written statement on 12 december. Obama administration officials confirmed that view after the payroll tax bill was approved.Republicans call the threat little more than an excuse for Obama to appease environmental groups while not rejecting outright the pipeline.
“The only random about this decision is the decision of the President to say, ‘ well, let’s wait until after the next elections,” said House Speaker John Boehner.Boehner and other Republicans say the pipeline would help Obama achieve his highest priority — employment — without costing the taxpayer money. They hope to portray Obama the unwillingness to approve the pipeline as a sign that he favors environmentalists about jobs.
Russ Girling, Trans Canada of President and chief executive, said his company would do what is necessary to ensure that the project is approved.In Nebraska, where the pipeline faces strong resistance, State officials are pending an environmental study that will determine a new route. Officials have said that the review will take six to nine months.
Project proponents say U.S. rejection of the pipeline would not stop it is built. Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper said that Canada could pursue an alternative route by Transport Canada to the west coast, where the oil to China and other Asian markets could be delivered.”Going to Canada to develop this no matter what, and that oil is either going to come to the United States or it’s going to go to a place like China. We want it here, “said Rep. Fred Upton, Chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee.
Opponents call the west coast far-fetched option, noting that Canadian regulators have announced a delay of one year for a similar project of these tar sands oil to British Columbia, on the west coast of Canada.Trade unions are closely watching. Unemployment in the construction is much higher than other industries, with more than 1.1 million construction workers jobless, said Brent bookers, Director of construction workers on the International Union of North America.
“For many members of the workers, this project is not only a pipeline, it is a lifeline,” said Bookers.Roger Toussaint, international Vice President of the Transport Workers Union, is opposed to the pipeline.”The dangers of the pipeline are convincing, and nobody should believe that the claims of either the Republican leaders or the energy companies, with regard to the project that is shovel ready or with regard to the number of jobs it will produce,” he said.
Associated Press writer Grant Schulte in Lincoln, Nebraska, contributed to this report.
