AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka urged the new Republican-controlled Congress and the White House to get together and approve the controversial, long-delayed Keystone XL pipeline project, saying it would boost the economy.

"There are a number of economic issues and job issues that we want them to get done. That happens to be one of them. So the answer is 'yes.' We want to get every jobs issue that we can out and as many jobs created as we can to get the economy going," Trumka said in response to a question about the pipeline during a post-election press conference Wednesday.

It was the firmest statement on the subject that Trumka has made. The AFL-CIO has voiced qualified support for the project in the past but stopped short a full endorsement. Last year, for example, the labor coalition issued a statement supporting pipeline projects in general but did not specifically mention Keystone.

AFL-CIO spokesman Josh Goldstein explained that Trumka's statement "was a 'yes' to Keystone, but there are still a lot conditions we have" relating to project's environmental impact, worker safety and other issues.

http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/afl-cio-urges-approval-of-keystone-xl-pipeline/article/2555805