WHAT’S GOING ON: Obama Administration Delays Decision on Jobs and Energy Project. SC Congressmen Want Open Debate.
As the Wall Street Journal criticizes President Obama for delaying decision on construction of TransCanada’s 1,700-mile, $7 billion Keystone XL underground pipeline that would deliver 830,000 barrels of heavy crude oil a day to Oklahoma and Texas refineries from Alberta, two members of South Carolina’s congressional delegation are adding their voices to the discussion.
Representatives Joe Wilson (R-SC2) who serves on the House Foreign Affairs and Armed Services Committees and Jeff Duncan (R-SC3) who serves on the House Natural Resources, Homeland Security, Foreign Affairs Committees jointly signed a letter today asking the presidential candidates in tomorrow night’s debate to address energy independence as it relates to national security.
The open letter to Republican presidential candidates begins, “Tomorrow evening, at Wofford College in Spartanburg, SC, each of you will have the opportunity to discuss some of our country’s most pressing national security concerns.”
“We urge you to use this occasion to focus on the topic of American energy independence and what you would do as our next Commander-in-Chief to ensure that the United States breaks its addiction to Middle Eastern oil.”
At issue is a pipeline that, according to US State Department environmental impact statements, would have “no significant impacts” on the environment. According to the letter from Congressmen Duncan and Wilson, of the total 340,000 new jobs created as a result of the pipeline’s construction, 2000 of them would be in South Carolina with an addition of $128 million to the state’s economy. One of those beneficiaries would be Michelin’s Lexington production facility which produces the giant tires used by earth movers to transport oil sand. Other equipment manufacturers in the state would be similarly affected.
President Obama said the administration’s decision will not come until after the 2012 election in order to address environmental concerns. He said in a prepared statement yesterday, “Because this permit decision could affect the health and safety of the American people as well as the environment, and because a number of concerns have been raised through a public process, we should take the time to ensure that all questions are properly addressed and all the potential impacts are properly understood.”
At the same time, a Wall Street Journal editorial claims that members of the environmentalist left are using the Keystone decision as a litmus test of the president’s greenworthiness. The Journal notes that “eco-agitator Bill McKibben recently warned” the administration at an Occupy Wall Street event, and “the Sierra Club has threatened that it won’t ‘mobilize the environmental base’ in 2012 if he approves the project.”
According to Representatives Wilson and Duncan, “Americans are desperate for a president who will restore our prestige abroad and our pride here at home. We think that restoration can and should begin on the Wofford College stage tomorrow night with your unwavering commitment to the immediate approval of the Keystone XL pipeline project and to domestic drilling.”
The 90-minute debate focusing on national security and foreign policy will begin at 8:00 PM EST. The first hour will be broadcast live (8:00-9:00 PM EST) on CBS. Additional portions will be broadcast on FACE THE NATION, CBSNews.com, NationalJournal.com and will be available to CBS affiliate television and radio stations.
EXTRA: Read the letter from Congressmen Wilson and Duncan HERE.
