U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell offered the following regarding the Democrat-controlled Senate’s rejection of the bipartisan Hoeven-Lugar amendment which would have advanced the XL Keystone Pipeline:
“The Democrat-controlled Senate just turned its back on job creation and energy independence in a single vote by rejecting the bipartisan Hoeven-Lugar amendment. They rejected legislation that would have led to construction of the Keystone XL Pipeline and the thousands of private-sector jobs that come with it. At a moment when tensions are rising in the Middle East, millions of Americans are struggling to find work and millions more are struggling with the rising cost of gas, Democrat opposition to this legislation shows how deeply out of touch they are with the concerns of middle-class Americans. President Obama’s personal pleas to wavering Senators may have tipped the balance against this legislation. When it comes to delays over Keystone, anyone looking for a culprit should now look no further than the Oval Office.”Sean Hackbarth. Policy Advocate at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce responded to the President's interference and the blocking of bipartisan support for the Keystone XL Pipeline:
Remember a couple of weeks ago when Jay Carney created an alternate universe and told the White House press corps that “the President didn't turn down the Keystone pipeline”? He blamed partisan politics for the denial of the permit that would link Gulf Coast refineries to Canadian shale oil
The President didn’t turn down Keystone XL yet he is lobbying Senators to oppose a Senate amendment in the transportation bill that would remove the State Department’s role in approving the pipeline.
I would’ve thought Jay Carney’s explanation would have involved protecting Executive Branch authority. Instead, he called bills to approve the pipeline "ineffectual, sham legislation." I wouldn’t call 20,000 jobs from Keystone XL to be a “sham.”
In another energy speech yesterday, the President said, “We can’t just rely on fossil fuels from the last century, we have got to continually develop new sources of energy.” Great! The Chamber agrees and is pushing for an “All-of-the-Above” energy strategy. But what differentiates this from the President’s rhetoric is that it is truly an “All-of-the-Above” strategy that includes coal, renewable, nuclear energy, natural gas, and … oil--thus the need for the Keystone XL pipeline.
Keystone XL doesn’t need any more barriers. The President should approve this popular, job-creating project.
President ‘Personally’ Defeats Keystone Jobs
Personal ‘Phone Calls From The President To Democrats’ Make The Difference On ‘Close’ Keystone Vote
Amendment Defeated 42-56
(S.Amdt.1537 To S.1813, Roll Call Vote #34, Amendment Defeated 42-56, 3/8/12)
‘The President Has Made Personal Appeals To Democrats’
“Obama Lobbies Senate Democrats to Block Measure Allowing Keystone Pipeline… Ahead of a vote expected as soon as today, the president has made personal appeals to Democrats from Midwestern states, where many of the jobs would be created...” (“Obama Lobbies Senate Democrats To Block Measure Allowing Keystone Pipeline,” Bloomberg, 3/8/12)
“A WH official confirms that Pres Obama has lobbied some Senators to vote against the Keystone Amendment.” (Twitter, @markknoller, 3/8/12)
“At briefing today, Jay Carney also confirmed Pres Obama lobbying Senate Dems against amendment to authorize Keystone Pipeline construction.” (Twitter, @markknoller, 3/8/12)
“The White House lobbying effort, including phone calls from the president to Democrats, signals that the vote could be close when it heads to the floor Thursday.” (“Obama Lobbying Dems Over Pipeline,” Politico, 3/7/12)
“Top Senate Dem aides say [vote]… will be close.” “Top Senate Dem aides say they expect Keystone amendment on transportation bill to fail today. Expect will be close, though.” (Twitter, @jbendery, 3/8/12)
Your Senators Vote - Grouped By Vote Position:
| YEAs ---56 Alexander (R-TN) Ayotte (R-NH) Barrasso (R-WY) Baucus (D-MT) Begich (D-AK) Blunt (R-MO) Boozman (R-AR) Brown (R-MA) Burr (R-NC) Casey (D-PA) Chambliss (R-GA) Coats (R-IN) Coburn (R-OK) Cochran (R-MS) Collins (R-ME) Conrad (D-ND) Corker (R-TN) Cornyn (R-TX) Crapo (R-ID) DeMint (R-SC) Enzi (R-WY) Graham (R-SC) Grassley (R-IA) Hagan (D-NC) Hatch (R-UT) Heller (R-NV) Hoeven (R-ND) Hutchison (R-TX) Inhofe (R-OK) Isakson (R-GA) Johanns (R-NE) Johnson (R-WI) Kyl (R-AZ) Landrieu (D-LA) Lee (R-UT) Lugar (R-IN) Manchin (D-WV) McCain (R-AZ) McCaskill (D-MO) McConnell (R-KY) Moran (R-KS) Murkowski (R-AK) Paul (R-KY) Portman (R-OH) Pryor (D-AR) Risch (R-ID) Roberts (R-KS) Rubio (R-FL) Sessions (R-AL) Shelby (R-AL) Snowe (R-ME) Tester (D-MT) Toomey (R-PA) Vitter (R-LA) Webb (D-VA) Wicker (R-MS) | NAYs ---42 Akaka (D-HI) Bennet (D-CO) Bingaman (D-NM) Blumenthal (D-CT) Boxer (D-CA) Brown (D-OH) Cantwell (D-WA) Cardin (D-MD) Carper (D-DE) Coons (D-DE) Durbin (D-IL) Feinstein (D-CA) Franken (D-MN) Gillibrand (D-NY) Harkin (D-IA) Inouye (D-HI) Johnson (D-SD) Kerry (D-MA) Klobuchar (D-MN) Kohl (D-WI) Lautenberg (D-NJ) Leahy (D-VT) Levin (D-MI) Lieberman (ID-CT) Menendez (D-NJ) Merkley (D-OR) Mikulski (D-MD) Murray (D-WA) Nelson (D-FL) Nelson (D-NE) Reed (D-RI) Reid (D-NV) Rockefeller (D-WV) Sanders (I-VT) Schumer (D-NY) Shaheen (D-NH) Stabenow (D-MI) Udall (D-CO) Udall (D-NM) Warner (D-VA) Whitehouse (D-RI) Wyden (D-OR) | Not Voting - 2 Kirk (R-IL) Thune (R-SD) | ||
Tags: Barack Obama, Democrats, blocking, Keystone XL Pipeline, U.S. Seanate To share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the ARRA News Service. Thanks!
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