The Obama administration announced yesterday it was rejecting a Canadian firm’s application for a permit to build and operate a massive oil pipeline across the U.S.-Canada border. This decision comes after President Obama signed a bill in December with a provision demanded by Republicans that gave the president 60 days to either accept the pipeline’s permit or declare the pipeline not in the national interest and reject it. Politico notes, “The White House has made every effort to distance itself from the decision, constantly referring reporters to the State Department.” Yet it’s important to point out that this is President Obama’s decision, per the legislation he signed, despite the fact that Deputy Secretary of State William J. Burns will be making the announcement.

Keystone XL is a project that would create 20,000 jobs, allow the United States to get less oil from the Middle East and more from our Canadian allies, and is supported by labor unions and Democrats. The AFL-CIO’s Building and Construction Trades Department President, Mark H. Ayers, put it well when he wrote, “[I]t is America’s workers who are clamoring for the expedited approval of this important project. As President Obama has rightfully declared when it comes to the creation of jobs, ‘WE CAN’T WAIT.’” Democrat Sen. Mark Begich  said, “I support the project. I think the president’s view on this, of waiting, I think doesn’t make a lot of sense. It is a project that could provide lots of jobs to this country… I think the president’s wrong on delaying this, and I think there are a lot of good jobs relating to this, and again [it’s oil] from a friendly country, Canada.”

Just last week, U.S. Chamber of Commerce President Thomas Donahue called on the president to approve the Keystone XL pipeline saying, “Our biggest and most reliable foreign energy supplier is Canada. The proposed Keystone XL pipeline would bring Canadian oil sands down to our Gulf Coast refineries and to other destinations along the way. This project has passed every environmental test. There is no legitimate reason—none at all—to subject it to further delay.” He added, “Labor unions and the business community alike are urging President Obama to act in the best interests of our national security and our workers and approve the pipeline. We can put 20,000 Americans to work right away and up to 250,000 over the life of the project.”

It’s stunning that the president would go out of his way to block the Keystone XL project and the tens of thousands of jobs it would create.

Related:

Job Creators To Obama: “Approve The Keystone XL Pipeline As Soon As Possible”; Chamber CEO: “There Is No Legitimate Reason…To Subject It To Further Delay”

As Obama Delays on Keystone XL Pipeline; Canadians Studying Options To Ship To China Instead

Obama: “I Didn’t Overpromise,” But What About Stimulus?; Why The Delay On Keystone XL Which Costs Taxpayers Nothing?

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