“It’s not often that Big Labor’s James P. Hoffa and U.S. Chamber of Commerce President Thomas Donohue agree on something…”
The Washington Examiner editoralizes,
… But pressure across the political spectrum is steadily growing to persuade Obama to put the needs of thousands of Americans seeking jobs ahead of his own political concerns. In a speech last week, Donohue pointed to the unanimity of unions and the business community in wanting “President Obama to act in the best interests of our national security and our workers and approve the pipeline. We can put 20,000 Americans to work right away and up to 250,000 over the life of the project.” And in a joint statement issued by U.S. pipeline contractors and unions, Hoffa said “the Keystone Pipeline project will offer working men and women a real chance to earn a good wage and support their families in this difficult economic climate.”
Hoffa is not alone among labor leaders. The list of those urging Obama to approve the pipeline reads like a who’s who of Big Labor. The AFL-CIO’s Mark Ayers told Huffington Post that “it is America’s workers who are clamoring for the expedited approval of this important project. As President Obama has rightfully declared when it comes to the creation of jobs, we can’t wait.” Ayers is president of the AFL-CIO’s building and construction trades department. Similarly, the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers said in its recent endorsement of the pipeline: “At a time when jobs are the top global priority, the Keystone project will put thousands back to work and have ripple benefits throughout the North American economy. Our members look forward to being part of this historic project and pledge to deliver the highest quality work to make it a success.”
With unemployment at 8.7 percent and as many as 14 million Americans either drawing unemployment benefits and looking for work or having exhausted their benefits and given up applying for new jobs, approving Keystone ought to be a no-brainer, immune from political calculations. Support for the project is bipartisan in both the Senate and House, so there is no question that Obama would be cheered on Capitol Hill for making the right decision. So who is more important to you, Mr. President, the working men and women of America, or the high-paid, pin-striped liberal activists running groups like the Sierra Club and Natural Resources Defense Council?
See if Obama now feels free to reject the pipeline after appeasing the union heads by the unconstitutional appointments to the NLRB.
Will someone explain why this is controversial? Over half the pipeline is already in, according to the Keystone Project map, and has been since 2010/2011. The northern part of the pipeline runs through states that already drill for oil and gas (Montana and North Dakota), as does the bottom link (Oklahoma and Texas). The completed parts of the lines were finished while Obama was in office. So who started this controversy? What can the pipeline possibly hurt in states already covered in oil rigs, wind turbines and farms? It doesn’t even run through highly populated areas. Suddenly the Administration cares about Montana? I didn’t know they even knew that was state….