Lipstick on a Pipeline: No Way 'Oil-Soaked' Congress Can Improve KXL
1/6/14

Posturing of Senate Democrats with clever Keystone XL amendments does nothing to impress pipeline opponents

"No amount of lipstick will make us want to kiss that pig...
Nothing Congress adds to a Keystone bill will make it better." —Jane Kleeb, Bold Nebraska



...Expressing their scorn for both the bill itself and the mindset guiding the Republicans, the climate action group 350.org took to Twitter to say:

Congress' top priority is apparently building Keystone XL. Are they really out of ideas on Day 1? Going to be a long 2 years. #noKXL
— 350 dot org (@350) January 5, 2015

Though Obama is sure to veto the bill, Democratic Senators this week have tried to play both sides of the ball. On one side, they indicate they have the votes to sustain a presidential veto. But on the other, as Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) has outlined, the Democrats will also put forth a series of amendments they argue would make the fossil fuel project, if it does goes forward, more politically palatable.

As Politico summarized on Monday, the Democratic amendments would:

— Ban the export of oil transported through the pipeline, language that Sen. Ed Markey (D-Mass.) has frequently floated in both chambers of Congress;

— Require U.S.-produced iron, steel and manufactured goods “to be used for the pipeline construction, connection, operation, and maintenance.” It’s another familiar measure that senators like Markey and Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) have offered.

— Require “that for every job created by the pipeline, an equal or greater amount of jobs is created through clean energy investments.” Schumer and Stabenow highlight legislation from Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) that would cut the price of home solar units through rebates.

— Restore funding for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program to levels authorized in the 2009 economic stimulus bill under the condition that seniors and veterans get first priority.

— Prohibit a state from permitting a foreign corporation to invoke eminent domain.

Groups opposed to the pipeline, however, told Common Dreams that even as they recognize the bipartisan politics now at play, there are no simply no amendments added or so-called "improvements" made to the bill which would justify unleashing the amount of climate and environmental damage the pipeline represents.


...She added, "I understand why the Democrats want to use a high profile moment to lift up issues like renewable energy and eminent domain abuse." Kleeb was acknowledging what many analysts have pointed out, that the minority Democrats—already with an eye toward 2016—are using their amendments to get GOP members on the record opposing job creation, green energy initiatives, and help for low-income families.

However, she added, "Our families are not bargaining chips. We are not horse traders." Kleeb said that she and Bold Nebraska members would continue to stand with President Obama so long as he continues to move in the direction of rejecting "Keystone XL once and for all."

http://www.commondreams.org/news/2015/01/06/lipstick-pipeline-no-way-oil-soaked-congress-can-improve-kxl