Obama White House Dashboard Confessional

Editorial Cartoon by Gary Varvel - his FB Page

  White House Claims They’ll Track Infrastructure Permits, Then Admits Keystone Pipeline Won’t Be Among Them

‘Keystone XL ... Is Not Included In The Dashboard’

“Obama will announce that his government is expanding a ‘dashboard’ used to track schedules for permits and coordinate reviews for departments of projects ranging from windfarms to ports and pipelines, the White House said.” (“Obama To Address U.S. Infrastructure At Busy New York Bridge,” Reuters, 5/14/14)

• “The highest-profile pipeline project, the politically contentious Keystone XL crude oil pipeline from Canada, is not included in the dashboard... it has been under review for more than five years.” (“Obama To Address U.S. Infrastructure At Busy New York Bridge,” Reuters, 5/14/14)

“Basically every poll shows around two-thirds of Americans support its construction (65-22 percent in the most recent Washington Post-ABC News poll). Yet Obama is not heeding those polls.” (“Obama Says Congress Should Pass Bills That Have Majority Support. Except Keystone Xl. And Things He Opposes,” The Washington Post, 5/12/14)

“This is embarrassing. The White House has all the information it needs to approve the pipeline yet once more has put politics ahead of policy...” (Editorial, “Obama Again Puts Politics Ahead Of Keystone XL Approval,” Dallas Morning News, 4/22/14)

KEYSTONE SUPPORT: ‘It Is, In The Most Literal Sense, A Life Line’

TERRY O’SULLIVAN, President Of The Laborers’ International Union Of North America: “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.” (Editorial, “Keystone Uncensored,” The Wall Street Journal, 4/22/14)

• “Enter Tom Steyer, the billion-dollar man. After long profiting off pipelines and coal, he began trying to save the planet in 2012. … He has pledged to pour $100 million into this year’s elections, with opposition to Keystone being his litmus test.” (Terry O’Sullivan, Op-Ed, “On Keystone XL, Put Policy Ahead Of Politics,” The Washington Post, 4/24/14)
• “Steyer has amplified the rhetoric of the environmental fringe aimed at tearing down the value of Americans who build things with their hands.” (Terry O’Sullivan, Op-Ed, “On Keystone XL, Put Policy Ahead Of Politics,” The Washington Post, 4/24/14)

AFL-CIO: “For many members of our unions, Keystone XL is not just a pipeline; it is, in the most literal sense, a life line.” (President Of AFL-CIO Building And Construction Trades Department Sean McGarvey, Letter To U.S. House Of Representatives, 5/22/13)

• AFL-CIO: “We are adamant in our belief that the economic, energy security and national security benefits associated with the construction of this pipeline are too important to allow it to be delayed any longer.” (President Of AFL-CIO Building And Construction Trades Department Sean McGarvey, Letter To U.S. House Of Representatives, 5/22/13)
• “The AFL-CIO president also reiterated his support for construction of the Keystone XL oil pipeline that would transport crude oil from Canada to Gulf Coast refineries. ‘Anything that makes sense and creates jobs and is sound environmental policy as well, we will be doing it. [With respect to] the XL pipeline, there's no environmental reason that it can't be done safely while at the same time creating jobs,’ he said.” (“AFL-CIO President Opposes Lifting Ban On Crude-Oil Exports,” National Journal, 1/14/14)

International Union of Operating Engineers: “The United States cannot afford further delay and uncertainty on the Keystone XL pipeline. It’s time to unlock the jobs this massive private investment will create and put Operating Engineers to work. The uncertainty that looms over this project has gone on long enough. The United States cannot sit idly by while state-owned Chinese oil companies move aggressively to secure this North American resource and the oil industry looks for other ways to move this product – at the same time the unemployment rate in construction is at 15% and Operating Engineers are hungry for work. Let’s move forward!” (The International Union of Operating Engineers, Press Release, 4/10/13)

International Brotherhood Of Electrical Workers: “While we are deeply disappointed with the U. S. State Department’s decision not to move forward with the Keystone XL pipeline, we are more concerned that a vital project that would create 20,000 construction and manufacturing jobs, generate $585 million in state and local taxes plus another $5 billion in property taxes and strengthen North America’s energy independence, has been ensnared in the political deadlock in Washington. … We believe that the decision-making process has been caught up in political gamesmanship.” (International Brotherhood Of Electrical Workers, Press Release, 1/18/12)

---

Tags: Obama White House, Dashboard Confessional, infrastructure permits, Keystone XL Pipeline, To share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the ARRA News Service. and "Like" Facebook Page - Thanks!