RNC Research

“The State Department Released A Report On Friday That Could Pave The Way Toward President Obama’s Approval Of The Keystone XL Oil Pipeline.” (Coral Davenport, “Report May Ease Way To Approval Of Keystone Pipeline,” The New York Times, 1/31/14)

According To The State Department, Approving The Keystone Pipeline “Is Unlikely To Prompt Oil Companies To Change The Rate” That Companies Extract Tar Sands Oil. “The long-awaited environmental impact statement on the project concludes that approval or denial of the pipeline, which would carry 830,000 barrels of oil a day from Alberta to the Gulf Coast, is unlikely to prompt oil companies to change the rate of their extraction of carbon-heavy tar sands oil, a State Department official said. Either way, the tar sands oil, which produces significantly more planet-warming carbon pollution than standard methods of drilling, is coming out of the ground, the report says.” (Coral Davenport, “Report May Ease Way To Approval Of Keystone Pipeline,” The New York Times, 1/31/14)

“The Conclusions Of The Report Appear To Indicate That The Project Has Passed Mr. Obama’s Climate Criteria.” “The conclusions of the report appear to indicate that the project has passed Mr. Obama’s climate criteria, an outcome expected to outrage environmentalists, who have rallied, protested, marched and been arrested in demonstrations around the country against the pipeline.” (Coral Davenport, “Report May Ease Way To Approval Of Keystone Pipeline,” The New York Times, 1/31/14)

ACCORDING TO OBAMA’S OWN STANDARD, HE IS RUNNING OUT OF EXCUSES TO NOT SUPPORT KEYSTONE

“It Is The President Who Must Make The Ultimate Decision” On Keystone. “Although Secretary of State John Kerry must weigh in with a recommendation to the president on whether to approve the pipeline, it is the president who must make the ultimate decision.” (Coral Davenport, “Report May Ease Way To Approval Of Keystone Pipeline,” The New York Times, 1/31/14)

In June 2013, Obama Said He Could Support Keystone Only If It “Does Not Significantly Exacerbate The Problem Of Carbon Pollution.” OBAMA: “But I do want to be clear:  Allowing the Keystone pipeline to be built requires a finding that doing so would be in our nation’s interest.  And our national interest will be served only if this project does not significantly exacerbate the problem of carbon pollution.  The net effects of the pipeline’s impact on our climate will be absolutely critical to determining whether this project is allowed to go forward.  It’s relevant.” (President Barack Obama, Remarks By The President On Climate Change, Washington, D.C., 6/25/13)

A MAJORITY OF AMERICANS CONTINUE TO THINK KEYSTONE IS GOOD FOR THE COUNTRY

Business, Labor, Democrats, And Former Obama Officials Support The Keystone Pipeline

AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka Has Reiterated His Support For The Keystone Pipeline. “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.” (Clare Foran, “AFL-CIO President Opposes Lifting Ban On Crude-Oil Exports,” The National Journal, 1/14/14)

Trumka Says The AFL-CIO Will Be Participating In Anything That Makes Sense And Creates Jobs And Is Sound Environmental Policy. “‘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.” (Clare Foran, “AFL-CIO President Opposes Lifting Ban On Crude-Oil Exports,” The National Journal, 1/14/14)

• Trumka On Keystone: “There’s No Environmental Reason That It Can’t Be Done Safely While At The Same Time Creating Jobs.” “‘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.” (Clare Foran, “AFL-CIO President Opposes Lifting Ban On Crude-Oil Exports,” The National Journal, 1/14/14)

Warren Buffet Supports The Keystone Pipeline. “Billionaire Warren Buffett said this week he supports the Keystone XL oil sands pipeline, inserting himself in a politically divisive debate on the project.” (Andrew Restuccia, “Warren Buffet Backs Keystone Pipeline,” The Hill, 5/8/12)

• Buffet: “It Certainly Seems Like It Makes Sense To Me… There Are An Awful Lot Of Pipelines Running In The United States And Net, They’ve Certainly Been A Huge Plus For The Country.” “‘I’m not an expert, but it certainly seems like it makes sense to me,’ Buffett said Monday when asked on Fox Business Network whether he would support the pipeline if it doesn’t threaten an environmentally sensitive region in Nebraska. ‘There are an awful lot of pipelines running in the United States and net, they’ve certainly been a huge plus for the country.’” (Andrew Restuccia, “Warren Buffet Backs Keystone Pipeline,” The Hill, 5/8/12)

President Of The US ChamberOf Commerce’s Institute For 21^st Energy: “The American Business Community And An Overwhelming Majority Of Citizens Support The Keystone XL Pipeline.” “‘The American business community and an overwhelming majority of citizens support the Keystone XL pipeline,’ observed Karen A. Harbert, president of the US Chamber’s Institute for 21st Energy, as the letter was released on Oct. 10.” (Nick Snow, “Business Leaders Urge Obama To Approve Keystone XL Permit,” Oil & Gas Journal, 10/10/13)

Former Obama National SecurityAdvisor Tom Donilon: I Would Recommend That Obama Approve Keystone Pipeline. WALTER ISAACSON: “I know you’re not in the administration anymore, so maybe you could answer. Would you recommend for the keystone pipeline if you were there?” DONILON: “You know, I would.” (Tom Donilon, Remarks At Aspen Institute Forum, Washington, D.C., 1/7/14)

A Bipartisan Group Of Senators Asked The Obama Administration Not To Delay A Decision On Keystone. “Four US senators asked the Obama administration not to delay a decision on the proposed Keystone XL crude oil pipeline’s cross-border permit because the US Department of State inspector general’s office is investigating the project’s draft supplemental environmental impact statement. An earlier DOS IG office investigation of the project’s original EIS for alleged conflicts of interest found none, Sens. John Hoeven (R-ND), Max Baucus (D-Mont.), John Thune (R-ND), and Mary L. Landrieu (D-La.) jointly observed on Aug. 29. Their request came 6 days after the IG’s office said the latest inquiry might not be finished until 2014, but would consider findings and recommendations from the earlier examination which were released in February 2012.”  (Nick Snow, “Senators Urge Obama Not To Delay Keystone XL Decision Again,” Oil & Gas Journal, 9/16/13)

Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV): “It’s Simply Common Sense That America Has A Lot To Gain By Opening Up This Pipeline Because It Not Only Addresses Energy Security, But Is Helps Create Thousands Of Jobs Right Here At Home.” (Sen. Joe Manchin, Press Release, 2/15/13)

The American People Support Keystone

A USA Today Poll Found That 56 Percent Of Americans Support The Keystone Pipeline. “About 56% say they favor the northern leg of the billion-dollar, Canada-to-U.S. project and 41% oppose it, according to the poll of 801 U.S. adults completed last month by Stanford University and Resources for the Future (RFF), a non-partisan research group.” (Wendy Koch, “USA TODAY Poll: Slight Majority Backs Keystone Pipeline,” USA Today, 1/28/14)