Senate Rejects GOP Keystone Pipeline Measure

[flpoljunkie]

Source: Talkingpointsmemo

TPMLivewire
04:26 PM EST
Senate Rejects GOP Keystone Pipeline Measure

The Senate on Thursday rejected a Republican measure that would have bypassed the Obama administration's objection to the Keystone XL pipeline and allowed construction on the project to begin immediately.

Via CNN.

Read more: http://livewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/entries/senate-rejects-gop-keystone-pipeline-measure

[abelenkpe]

1. Good. nt

[PuffedMica]

9. Double Good plus + n/t

[sinkingfeeling]

2. The GOP was blasting the President this morning because he was lobbying

Democrats to defeat it.

[Old and In the Way]

3. Excellent!

A POS Red Herring of an energy bill if there ever was one.

[WhatintheWorld]

14. Why?

[Old and In the Way]

15. Because the risks are entirely socialized by the people while the profits stay privitized.

The environmental risks are ours alone while the refined product gets sold to the highest bidder on the world commodity market.

There are huge concerns about pumping this liquid sandpaper-like sludge thousands of miles over and through the largest underground aquifer in this country. These pipes are going to suffer breaks and environmental clean-up will most likely be borne by the taxpayers. We know BP et al are not paying the true costs of their GoM disaster...why would this be any different? There are far better energy investments that we can make than offering up one of the most polluting carbon energy sources in Canada.

Lets go through the formal environmental impact review before we get steamrolled into allowing this energy turkey to take flight. If that environmental review is done, the risks and impact will be known to all. Then we can make an informed decision, not one that is politically driven by Republicans looking for for an issue to campaign against in 2012. And should this somehow get approved...I hope we force the energy companies to put up unrefundable bonds to cover emergency clean-ups and demand these companies buy carbon offsets to compensate from this dirty energy and energy intensive costs to extract.

[WhatintheWorld]

19. Environmental risks?

I would suggest that the environmental risks are minimal while the jobs created are more beneficial.

[Old and In the Way]

21. You can suggest whatever you like.

But I wouldn't take their word for it. They are short term jobs and long term environmental risks....and no benefit to the US consumer.

http://thinkprogress.org/green/2012/01/26/412724/breaking-transcanadas-dirty-keystone-xl-jobs-claims-draw-sec-complaint/?mobile=nc

BREAKING: TransCanada’s Dirty Keystone XL Jobs Claims Draw Complaint To SEC

ThinkProgress Green has learned that TransCanada, the foreign tar sands company behind the proposed Keystone XL pipeline, is facing a potential inquiry into whether it deliberately deceived investors by inflating the job-creation potential of the project. Greenpeace has filed a complaint with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) over TransCanada’s “false or misleading statements about the proposed Keystone XL pipeline project.”

In the complaint, Greenpeace shows evidence from TransCanada’s Canadian filings and the State Department that the project would involve fewer than 1000 in-state jobs, and around 6000 total jobs. This evidence is contrasted with TransCanada’s (TRP) repeated public pronouncements that pipeline construction would involve 20,000 American jobs:

Specifically, TRP has asserted that each mile of KXL pipeline constructed in the U.S. would create American jobs at a rate that is 67 times higher than job creation totals given by the company to Canadian officials for the Canadian portion of the pipeline.

These false and misleading job creation numbers are part of TRP’s lobbying and public relations campaign designed to create congressional pressure on the U.S. government to issue a Presidential Permit approving construction of KXL. Without government approval, TRP will not be able to build KXL, which will significantly impact the company’s future earnings and share price. That government approval was thrown into serious doubt last week when President Obama rejected the current KXL pipeline proposal at the State Department’s recommendation.

It may be legal to lie to the American public, but it is an actionable offense to deceive shareholders under U.S. securities disclosure laws.

[wordpix]

23. OK, YOU pay for the oil/sludge spills and drink the water when the pipelines burst

then let's hear how the "environmental risks are minimal"

You really ought to read up about oil pipeline breaks and spills, but I know "ignorance is bliss"

[Vincardog]

27. It would COST JOBS. The environment al "risks" are in fact 'certain' if the pipeline is built

it will leak.
It will raise the price of Gas in the midwest and COST us jobs.

This would at best provide a few thousand TEMPORARY
jobs during its construction.

The increase in gas prices caused by the export of the gas would cost us jobs.

The toxic sludge pumped thru the pipeline would provide no benefit
to the American people because it would now be exported.
The produce would be tax free because it would be refined in the free trade zone.

Tho only ones to benefit would be the investors (look at the politicians pushing this to see who they are)
the refinery (read KOCH brothers) and the Chinese who would be the end market.

The whole rest of the world would suffer the DISASTROUS effects of lighting this carbon bomb.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

28. there are jobs with alternative power

pipelines will become obsolete

[TBF]

29. Do you have anything at all to back that up?

And beneficial for whom - the folks who build pipelines? You're going to have to be much more specific here and cite your sources.

[Bandit]

30. Out of curiosity, how many jobs would this create compared to green energy tech?

I have read where no more than a couple of thousand of perminent jobs would be created on the Keystone pipeline while hundreds of thousands of jobs will be created making solar panels and tidal generators..

[flpoljunkie]

4. Link to Roll Call vote. The Republicans voted in lockstep, of course.

http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=112&session=2&vote=00034

[karynnj]

5. Disturbingly close

Looking at the roll call, the Democrats would not be able to filibuster if they lost 2 votes. None of the nonvoters are on our side.

[grntuscarora]

6. Disgusted with my Senator's vote (Casey- D-PA)

But overjoyed with the outcome!

[flpoljunkie]

8. Indeed!

[starroute]

18. That's the second strike against Casey in a row

Last week he voted in favor of the Blunt Amendment.

As a Pennsylvania, I've never been a big fan of Casey's -- but now I'm getting actively annoyed.

[jwirr]

7. nothing to say but GOOD.

[cal04]

10. Eleven Democrats bucked President Barack Obama

Eleven Democrats bucked President Barack Obama by voting in favor of the amendment. They include Sens. Max Baucus (D-Mo.), Mark Begich (D-Alaska), Kay Hagan (D-N.C.), Mary Landrieu (D-La.), Joe Manchin (D-W. Va.), Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.) Mark Pryor (Ark.), Jon Tester (D-Mont.), Jim Webb (D-Va.), Robert Casey (D-Pa.) and Kent Conrad (D-N.D).

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/03/08/keystone-xl-senate-defeats-bill_n_1333108.html?ref=politics

[flpoljunkie]

11. Many up for re-election and the usual suspects--some from oil producing states.

That said, it did not pass. For that, we can be thankful.

[DonCoquixote]

13. Let's look at Landrieu

Landrieu...hmm, I know some of you Cajuns et croeles will get pissed, but this woman is a disgusting abomination. I will not use the term prostitute in dishonor of Rush L. but considering what this woman allowed to happen to her state, it fits. She gave the Oil industry all they wanted, let the wetland die down...and THEN, after katrina hit, she was turned down for everything, did this change her, no, because right after BP spilled oil, she demanded Obama get drilling in the gulf back!

And yet, she, like th eohters on your lsit, will be defended, no matter what. And people wonder why we ar ein the shape we are in.

[wordpix]

25. I see nothing different between Landrieu and repugs, nothing!

[wordpix]

24. what is with these DINOs?

Wish I had time to research how much money each takes from Big Oil.

[flpoljunkie]

12. Senate also rejected a Dem alternative from Ron Wyden. It failed 34-64. All R's voted No.

A Democratic alternative from Sen. Ron Wyden (Ore.) failed 34-64, with 13 Democrats voting with Republicans against the amendment. Wyden’s amendment would have required the pipeline permit application to be approved or denied within 90 days of the completion of all analyses required by current law and executive orders. The Wyden proposal would also have mandated that all project construction materials be made in the U.S., and it would have banned companies from exporting oil from the pipeline. One of the key purposes of the pipeline is to allow TransCanada to export the oil extracted from Canadian tar sands to other countries.

http://www.rollcall.com/news/senate_rejects_two_keystone_pipeline_proposals-212996-1.html?pos=hln

Note: The roll call vote indicates there were 33 Yes and 65 No votes.

http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=112&session=2&vote=00033

[Old and In the Way]

16. Republicans and 13 Democrats have no problems selling out this country for "drill baby drill"

sloganeering. If they really cared about US energy policy and our energy future, they'd have supported this amendment. But they are willing to allow this country to take the environmental risk but not the economic benefit. Hypocrites.

[wordpix]

26. +10000

[asfghjkyu]

17. Spam deleted by uppityperson (MIR Team)

[donheld]

20. Good.

[fasttense]

22. So why don't these supposed Constitutional Teabaggers in the House pass

a bill that says the President is NOT a King and Can NOT murder Americans on his say so alone.

But no they are too busy passing useless crap like this.