The GOP has been promoting the Keystone Pipeline Project as a “JOBS BILL” in an attempt to trick the American public into supporting the project although it would clearly serve against self-interest. For all intents and purposes, if passed – all the bill would do is provide some short-term jobs, long-term risk and provide Canada the means to transport their oil to the Gulf of Mexico for sale to anyone other than the United States.
Pretty obvious, huh? But here’s something I get you don’t know already. While Republicans are pounding the internet and the airwaves with talk about the “Keystone JOBS BILL” they are quietly working in the background to ensure passage only benefits corporate interests. How you might ask – simple; below are the 7 was the GOP plans to work against the U.S. interests with the Keystone Pipeline as presented by The Campaign for America’s Future.
- NOT to approve the Franken amendment “to require the use of iron, steel, and manufactured goods produced in the United States in the construction of the Keystone XL Pipeline and facilities,”
- NOT to approve the Markey-Baldwin amendment requiring that the pipeline oil stay in the United States for domestic use,
- NOT to require campaign finance disclosures for politicians benefiting from tar sands development,
- NOT to require tar sands companies contribute to a government fund for oil spill cleanups like the one now underway in Montana after a 50,000-gallon spill,
- NOT to ensure private property cannot be seized through condemnation or eminent domain for the private gain of a foreign-owned business entity,
- NOT to tax this oil as petroleum is usually taxed,
- NOT to impose an 8-cent-per-barrel tax.
To put the final nail in their coffin, The Campaign for America’s Future concluded their report noting:
And then, after promising to run the Senate by allowing debate and amendments and after Republicans had voted to block campaign funding disclosure associated with the pipeline, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell shut down all amendments and debate, so that Republicans could fly off to attend a Koch brothers campaign-funding event in Palm Springs.
For those of you unfamiliar with The Campaign for America’s Future, here is a little background from their website:
The Campaign for America’s Future is the strategy center for the progressive movement. Our goal is to forge the enduring progressive majority needed to realize the America of shared prosperity and equal opportunity that our country was meant to be.
To attain our ultimate goal, we spearhead a compelling progressive agenda that addresses the kitchen-table issues working families face. We regularly convene and educate progressive thinkers, organizers and community activists so our voices will be coordinated, cogent and potent. And we incubate national campaigns on the critical issues that will define America for generations to come.
Americans have had it with tired conservative politics that divide us, an economy that squeezes us, a foreign policy that weakens us and a government that serves few of us.
But while conservatism may be exhausted, progressives are just getting started. The Campaign for America’s Future is driving our progressive movement and offering the new vision, bright ideas and bold leadership Americans rightly demand.
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