Keystone Momentum Appears To Be Building

Labor Unions Demand The Pipeline

‘Congressional Democrats Are Joining Republicans In Backing The Project,’
‘Would Support A Highway Bill With A Keystone Pipeline Provision’

“President Obama is finding himself increasingly boxed in on the Keystone pipeline fight as more Congressional Democrats are joining Republicans in backing the project, which has strong labor support and could generate significant numbers of jobs in economically hard-hit states.” (“Democrats Joining G.O.P. On Pipeline,” The New York Times, 4/20/12)

Dems ‘Would Support A Highway Bill With A Keystone Pipeline Provision’b

“…Democrats like Senator Bob Casey of Pennsylvania say they would support a highway bill with a Keystone pipeline provision. ‘I would vote for it, yes,’ Mr. Casey said.” (“Democrats Joining G.O.P. On Pipeline,” The New York Times, 4/20/12)

11 Senate Democrats voted ‘To approve the Keystone XL pipeline project and provide for environmental protection and government oversight.’ (S.Amdt.1537 To S.1813, Roll Call Vote #34, Amendment Defeated 56-42: R 45-0; D 11-40; I 0-2, 3/8/12)

·         YEAS: Sens. Baucus (D-MT), Begich (D-AK), Casey (D-PA), Conrad (D-ND), Hagan (D-NC), Landrieu (D-LA), Manchin (D-WV), McCaskill (D-MO), Pryor (D-AR), Tester (D-MT), Webb (D-VA).

SEN. MAX BAUCUS (D-MT): “There is absolutely no reason we cannot start putting Montanans to work on the Keystone XL pipeline right away… and I’ll keep fighting tooth and nail until that happens…” (“GOP Wants Sen. Baucus To Go Rogue On Keystone XL Oil Sands Pipeline,” The Hill, 1/29/12)

"Baucus has told business leaders in Montana that winning authorization for the transnational pipeline is one of his highest priorities for 2012.” (“GOP Wants Sen. Baucus To Go Rogue On Keystone XL Oil Sands Pipeline,” The Hill, 1/29/12)

SEN. JON TESTER (D-MT): “The Keystone pipeline will create Montana jobs and it should not have to wait 14 months for an up-or-down decision…” (“Baucus, Tester Support Keystone XL, But Not GOP Bill,” KTVQ News, 11/30/11)

SEN. MARK PRYOR (D-AR): “I’m for the pipeline.  I think you can do it environmentally safely. … it’s going to be approved, it’s going to go forward.” (“Senator Pryor Believes Pipeline Will Be Approved After November Election,” KUAR FM 89.1, 3/19/12)

SEN. MARK BEGICH (D-AK): “I support the project… I think the president’s wrong on delaying...” (“Begich On Keystone XL, Bypass Mail,” KTVA11 Alaska, 12/15/11)

SEN. JOE MANCHIN (D-WV): “I am for the Keystone pipeline … I mean, all the trade unions, everyone’s for it, it creates thousands of jobs!” (Fox News, 12/12/11)

SEN. KENT CONRAD (D-ND): “I think it's in our national interest that it comes here…” (“Conrad Reacts To Decision On Keystone XL Pipeline,” KX News, 1/18/12)

SEN. MARY LANDRIEU (D-LA.): “It’s always had more Democratic support than people thought…” (“Lawmakers Grow Confident Deal Will Be Reached By Weekend,” The Hill, 12/15/11)

SEN. CLAIRE MCCASKILL (D-MO): “I'm fighting for construction of the entire Keystone pipeline…” (Sen. McCaskill, Press Release, 3/22/12)

SEN. BEN NELSON (D-NE): “The pipeline will be built, bringing jobs to Nebraska.” (“TransCanada To Alter Keystone Route,” The Hill, 11/14/11)

House Dems Supported A Transportation Bill With A Keystone Pipeline Provision

69 House Democrats voted for “a short-term transportation bill that included a provision that would pave the way for the construction of the next stage of the oil pipeline...” (“Democrats Joining G.O.P. On Pipeline,” The New York Times, 4/20/12)

·         YEAS: Reps. Altmire (D-PA), Baca (D-CA), Barrow (D-GA), Bishop (D-GA), Bishop (D-NY), Boren (D-OK), Boswell (D-IA), Brady (D-PA), Braley (D-IA), Brown (D-FL), Cardoza (D-CA), Carson (D-IN), Chandler (D-KY), Clyburn (D-SC), Cooper (D-TN), Costa (D-CA), Costello (D-IL), Critz (D-PA), Cuellar (D-TX), Davis (D-IL), DeFazio (D-OR), Dicks (D-WA), Donnelly (D-IN), Doyle (D-PA), Eshoo (D-CA), Fattah (D-PA), Al Green (D-TX), Gene Green (D-TX), Hahn (D-CA), Higgins (D-NY), Hochul (D-NY), Holden (D-PA), Jackson (D-IL), Jackson Lee (D-TX), Johnson, E. B. (D-TX), Keating (D-MA), Kissell (D-NC), Larson (D-CT), Lipinski (D-IL), Loebsack (D-IA), Lofgren (D-CA), Lynch (D-MA), Matheson (D-UT), McCarthy (D-NY), McIntyre (D-NC), Michaud (D-ME), Owens (D-NY), Pascrell (D-NJ), Pastor (D-AZ), Perlmutter (D-CO), Peterson (D-MN), Rahall (D-WV), Richardson (D-CA), Richmond (D-LA), Ross (D-AR), Rothman (D-NJ), Ruppersberger (D-MD), Rush (D-IL), Ryan (D-OH), Loretta Sanchez (D-CA), Schrader (D-OR), Schwartz (D-PA), Sewell (D-AL), Shuler (D-NC), Sires (D-NJ), Thompson (D-MS), Walz (D-MN), Watt (D-NC), Yarmuth (D-KY). (HR 4348, Roll Call Vote # 170: Passed 293-127: R 224-14 ; D 69-113, 4/18/12)

“Representative Dennis Cardoza, a California Democrat who voted for the House measure, said he would be happy to vote to override a veto if needed. He said: ‘I think the president has made a very serious mistake here. I’m still supporting the president. But we have to do what’s right.’” (“Democrats Joining G.O.P. On Pipeline,” The New York Times, 4/20/12)

REP. JAMES CLYBURN (D-SC): “I'm very much for the pipeline. There is no question about that.” (Rep. Clyburn, MSNBC’s “Andrea Mitchell Reports,” 12/14/11)

DEM LETTER TO OBAMA: “America truly cannot afford to say ‘no’ to this privately funded, $20 billion, jobs-creating infrastructure project, which would bolster our economic, energy and national security. To that end, we respectfully urge you to ensure that the Presidential Permit is issued for Keystone XL.” (22 House Democrats, Letter To President Obama, 10/19/11)

·         “…Mr. President, America needs the Keystone XL Pipeline. It is in our national interest to have a Presidential Permit issued for Keystone XL as soon as possible.” (22 House Democrats, Letter To President Obama, 10/19/11)

Signed By: Rep. Jason Altmire, (D-PA), Rep. Joe Baca, (D-CA), Rep. John Barrow, (D-GA), Rep. Dan Boren, (D-OK), Rep. Leonard Boswell, (D-IA), Rep. Robert Brady (D-PA), Rep. Jim Costa, (D-CA), Rep. Mark Critz (D-PA), Rep. Henry Cuellar, (D-TX), Rep. Charlie Gonzalez, (D-TX), Rep. Al Green, (D-TX), Rep. Gene Green, (D-TX), Rep. Rubén Hinojosa, (D-TX), Rep. Tim Holden, (D-PA), Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, (D-TX), Rep. Daniel Lipinski, (D-IL), Rep. Tim Matheson, (D-UT), Rep. Carolyn McCarthy, (D-NY), Rep. Bill Owens, (D-NY), Rep. Collin Peterson, (D-MN), Rep. Mike Ross, (D-AR), Rep. Peter Visclosky, (D-IN)

Elections Matter! Expect Obama Administration To Back away and Support Keystone

---

Tags: Keystone, keystone pipeline, democrats, republicans, news, election 2012 To share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the ARRA News Service. Thanks!