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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsVulnerable Senate Democrats Urge Keystone XL Approval
Four politically vulnerable Senate Democrats are urging U.S. President Barack Obama to approve the Keystone XL pipeline, spotlighting the implications of an election-year decision that may influence which party controls the chamber.
At a rally yesterday in Washington, Senators Mary Landrieu of Louisiana and Mark Pryor of Arkansas joined Republicans, the Canadian ambassador to the U.S., oil-industry lobbyists and labor leaders to call on the administration to authorize the $5.4 billion Canada-U.S. oil pipeline. Two other Senate Democrats who face tough November re-elections -- Mark Begich of Alaska and Kay Hagan of North Carolina -- werent at the rally but also have voiced strong support for the project.
The president is in a bit of a squeeze on this, said Stu Rothenberg, editor of the nonpartisan Rothenberg Political Report. Rejecting Keystone will give Republicans running against the four Democrats a green light to attack over a project thats popular with voters and industries back home, he said.
TransCanada Corp. (TRP) of Calgary wants to build the pipeline to carry oil-sands crude from Alberta to refineries in Texas and Louisiana. The U.S. State Department last week released an environmental assessment that said Keystone isnt as significant a threat to climate change as its opponents contend.
Landrieu and Pryor touted their leadership in pressing for the pipelines approval yesterday before television cameras that could beam their words back home to Republican-leaning states where Keystone is popular.
more...
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-02-05/vulnerable-senate-democrats-urge-keystone-xl-approval.html
Timez Squarez
(262 posts)Vote aye on keystone, expect to lose in a primary.
Vote nay on keystone, your seat remains safe.
russspeakeasy
(6,539 posts)Seeking Serenity
(2,838 posts)And even if he does, he'll win.
MisterP
(23,730 posts)even if it makes us lose the seat!
WorseBeforeBetter
(11,441 posts)at least according to recent polling. A majority in NC hate the ACA. And based on the many "Drill Here, Drill Now" bumper stickers I see around, they must love some pipeline...
jwirr
(39,215 posts)talking about it in a positive way. They are all worried about winning in 2014. I am not sure this is going to be the key to winning.
Tierra_y_Libertad
(50,414 posts)"History has tried to teach us that we can't have good government under politicians. Now, to go and stick one at the very head of government couldn't be wise."/i] Mark Twain
2naSalit
(86,048 posts)logic this is!! What a crock of poo our Congress people base their rationale on!