Everything we will ever need to know about the Obama Administration may come down to a single decision. And that is whether Obama, along with newly sworn in Secretary of State John Kerry, approve the Keystone XL pipeline from the Alberta tar sands to the U.S. For, contained in that decision is not just the future energy independence of North America — the U.S. currently depends on foreign sources for 45 percent of our fuel— but perhaps the future prosperity of the American economy. If completed, the expanded pipeline — there actually is another Keystone pipeline from Alberta operated by TransCanada that already delivers about 590,000 barrels of oil a day — will add another 500,000 barrels a day to the mix.
The fact the Chinese are waiting in the wings to claim this energy for themselves would be reason enough to approve it. Beijing has offered to pay for building an alternative pipeline to the Pacific coast to have the oil shipped there. For now, global production keeps up with global demand, but developing economies like China and India — oil importers both — invariably are leading to higher demand. Which means every drop we fail to develop here, whether in the deep waters of the Gulf of Mexico, or fail to gain access to, as in Canada, is driving up prices at the pump.
The recent run-up in gasoline prices provides yet another warning to the Obama Administration of the types of price pressures the American people will be faced with in the future should we fail to become energy independent. Since Jan. alone, the price for a gallon of regular gasoline has jumped by $.44 to $3.69 on Feb. 18,reports the Energy Information Agency.
MUCH MORE: http://netrightdaily.com/2013/02/keystone-pipeline-is-the-key-to-the-future/#ixzz2Le9JwmSR
Showing posts with label Keystone XL. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Keystone XL. Show all posts
Friday, February 22, 2013
Friday, June 15, 2012
As Expected: Canada To Build Replacement For Keystone Pipeline To Sell Their Oil To China
As the United States continues to play political Ping-Pong with the fate of the Keystone XL pipeline, Canadian officials and companies are desperately seeking alternatives to get the country’s nearly 200 billion barrels in oil reserves — almost equal to that of Saudi Arabia — to market from landlocked Alberta. Oil companies complain that they are losing revenues from pipeline bottlenecks. So Canada is plunging ahead with plans to build more pipelines of its own. To hasten development of new export routes, the Conservative government is streamlining permit processes by accelerating scheduled hearings and limiting public comment.
The government has also threatened to revoke the charitable status of environmental groups that are challenging the projects. And Public Safety Canada, the equivalent of the United States Department of Homeland Security, has classified environmentalists as a potential source of domestic terrorism, adding them to a list that includes white supremacists.
CONTINUED: http://weaselzippers.us/2012/06/14/as-expected-canada-to-build-replacement-for-keystone-pipeline-to-sell-their-oil-to-china/
The government has also threatened to revoke the charitable status of environmental groups that are challenging the projects. And Public Safety Canada, the equivalent of the United States Department of Homeland Security, has classified environmentalists as a potential source of domestic terrorism, adding them to a list that includes white supremacists.
CONTINUED: http://weaselzippers.us/2012/06/14/as-expected-canada-to-build-replacement-for-keystone-pipeline-to-sell-their-oil-to-china/
Tuesday, April 17, 2012
Did Buffett Help Obama Kill Keystone Pipeline to Reap Financial Gain?
The Blaze.com
As the nation’s gas prices skyrocket, critics argue that President Obama’s recent rejection of the $7 billion, “shovel-ready” Keystone XL oil pipeline, followed by his continued vow to “double down” on green energy, is a clear sign the administration plans to do little of substance in terms of American oil exploration. The move has also stirred controversy about the president’s real intentions concerning job creation and reducing pain at the pump for everyday Americans.
TransCanada and the Keystone XL oil pipeline
TransCanada filed an application to build the nearly 1,700-mile underground pipeline in 2008 and passed two rigorous State Department reviews. In February 2010, South Dakota Public Utilities Commission (PUC) granted a permit based on a thorough work up of the project.
“There has been a great deal of work and due diligence leading up to this decision,” said South Dakota Public Utilities Commissioner Dustin Johnson in an interview with DownStreamToday. “The record compiled in this case is pretty impressive. In the end, I feel the conditions we have placed upon this project ensure that it will be constructed in a manner that is sensitive to South Dakota and her people.”
Another Public Utilities official said he believed “the process by which this application was considered was open, thorough and fair” and Keystone openly pledged to station full-time personnel in South Dakota to respond to any emergency situations that may have arisen, according to the report.
That was apparently not enough for the White House, however, which sent TransCanada and others back to the drawing board in January 2012, citing environmental concerns.
To bypass obstacles created by special interest groups and the Environmental Protection Agency, a March 2012 amendment was introduced in the Senate that would have eliminated the need for a federal permit, while addressing environmentalists’ worries by placing more autonomy in Nebraska’s hands. After a vote, however, the measure was squashed 56 to 42.
If allowed, Keystone would have brought a reported 830,000 barrels of crude oil per day from Alberta, Canada, to U.S. outposts and refineries on the Gulf Coast and created thousands of jobs.
In the wake of Obama’s political maneuvering, Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper deemed the U.S. an unreliable energy partner and is thus expanding his country’s crude export. The move will result in Canada eliminating the discount it once afforded the U.S. on its oil products.
The administration’s alleged reason for rejecting the application for the pipeline submitted by Calgary-based TransCanada was said to be based on a “recommendation” by the State Department, which concluded there was not enough time to assess alternate pipeline routes. Yet, as we have pointed out, the pipeline was under review for no less than three years and was approved earlier. In addition, if environmental concerns were truly the catalyst for rejecting the pipeline, why then would the president seem comfortable with operating pollutant-emitting freight trains along a Northern railroad line through the United States?
Warren Buffett’s Burlington Northern Railroad
What would prompt the president to turn the lights out on what critics argue would have been an environmentally-sound, job-boosting, oil-producing project that would benefit the nation and preserve the financially beneficial Canadian-U.S. oil relationship? What does President Obama have to gain by rejecting Keystone XL and who else stands to benefit from his decision?
It was previously reported on The Blaze that Warren Buffett’s Burlington Northern Santa Fe LLC railroad — a unit of Buffett’s Omaha, Nebraska based Berkshire Hathaway — would be among those poised to reap sizable gains by the administration’s decision to reject TransCanada Corp’s oil pipeline permit. According to Bloomberg, Berkshire Hathaway completed its roughly $26.4 billion purchase of Burlington Northern, issuing new stock and paying out $15.87 billion in cash.
“Whatever people bring to us, we’re ready to haul,” Krista York-Wooley, a spokeswoman for Burlington Northern told Bloomberg. If Keystone XL “doesn’t happen, we’re here to haul.”
CONTINUED: http://www.theblaze.com/stories/did-buffett-kill-the-keystone-pipeline-to-reap-financial-gain/
As the nation’s gas prices skyrocket, critics argue that President Obama’s recent rejection of the $7 billion, “shovel-ready” Keystone XL oil pipeline, followed by his continued vow to “double down” on green energy, is a clear sign the administration plans to do little of substance in terms of American oil exploration. The move has also stirred controversy about the president’s real intentions concerning job creation and reducing pain at the pump for everyday Americans.
TransCanada and the Keystone XL oil pipeline
TransCanada filed an application to build the nearly 1,700-mile underground pipeline in 2008 and passed two rigorous State Department reviews. In February 2010, South Dakota Public Utilities Commission (PUC) granted a permit based on a thorough work up of the project.
“There has been a great deal of work and due diligence leading up to this decision,” said South Dakota Public Utilities Commissioner Dustin Johnson in an interview with DownStreamToday. “The record compiled in this case is pretty impressive. In the end, I feel the conditions we have placed upon this project ensure that it will be constructed in a manner that is sensitive to South Dakota and her people.”
Another Public Utilities official said he believed “the process by which this application was considered was open, thorough and fair” and Keystone openly pledged to station full-time personnel in South Dakota to respond to any emergency situations that may have arisen, according to the report.
That was apparently not enough for the White House, however, which sent TransCanada and others back to the drawing board in January 2012, citing environmental concerns.
To bypass obstacles created by special interest groups and the Environmental Protection Agency, a March 2012 amendment was introduced in the Senate that would have eliminated the need for a federal permit, while addressing environmentalists’ worries by placing more autonomy in Nebraska’s hands. After a vote, however, the measure was squashed 56 to 42.
If allowed, Keystone would have brought a reported 830,000 barrels of crude oil per day from Alberta, Canada, to U.S. outposts and refineries on the Gulf Coast and created thousands of jobs.
In the wake of Obama’s political maneuvering, Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper deemed the U.S. an unreliable energy partner and is thus expanding his country’s crude export. The move will result in Canada eliminating the discount it once afforded the U.S. on its oil products.
The administration’s alleged reason for rejecting the application for the pipeline submitted by Calgary-based TransCanada was said to be based on a “recommendation” by the State Department, which concluded there was not enough time to assess alternate pipeline routes. Yet, as we have pointed out, the pipeline was under review for no less than three years and was approved earlier. In addition, if environmental concerns were truly the catalyst for rejecting the pipeline, why then would the president seem comfortable with operating pollutant-emitting freight trains along a Northern railroad line through the United States?
Warren Buffett’s Burlington Northern Railroad
What would prompt the president to turn the lights out on what critics argue would have been an environmentally-sound, job-boosting, oil-producing project that would benefit the nation and preserve the financially beneficial Canadian-U.S. oil relationship? What does President Obama have to gain by rejecting Keystone XL and who else stands to benefit from his decision?
It was previously reported on The Blaze that Warren Buffett’s Burlington Northern Santa Fe LLC railroad — a unit of Buffett’s Omaha, Nebraska based Berkshire Hathaway — would be among those poised to reap sizable gains by the administration’s decision to reject TransCanada Corp’s oil pipeline permit. According to Bloomberg, Berkshire Hathaway completed its roughly $26.4 billion purchase of Burlington Northern, issuing new stock and paying out $15.87 billion in cash.
“Whatever people bring to us, we’re ready to haul,” Krista York-Wooley, a spokeswoman for Burlington Northern told Bloomberg. If Keystone XL “doesn’t happen, we’re here to haul.”
CONTINUED: http://www.theblaze.com/stories/did-buffett-kill-the-keystone-pipeline-to-reap-financial-gain/
Saturday, March 24, 2012
THE BLAZE: ‘This Is Such a Crock’: Limbaugh Calls Out President for ‘Approving’ the Keystone Deal
During a segment of the Rush Limbaugh show on Thursday, the host took on President Obama for claiming he “approved” the construction of the new Keystone XL pipeline from Cushing, Okla., to the Gulf. “Obama could not have stopped this leg of the Keystone pipeline if he’d wanted to,” Limbaugh said. “He’s simply there…There’s no other way to say it. He’s just glomming onto it. It‘s like trying to be present when the Ten Commandments are given at the burning bush and claiming you wrote ’em.” Well, that’s not exactly how that story goes, but you get the idea. Limbaugh was amazed that the president would try to position himself as a proponent of oil drilling
CONTINUED: http://www.theblaze.com/stories/this-is-such-a-crock-limbaugh-calls-out-president-for-approving-the-keystone-deal/
CONTINUED: http://www.theblaze.com/stories/this-is-such-a-crock-limbaugh-calls-out-president-for-approving-the-keystone-deal/
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
Americans for Prosperity-Update
AFP wants to keep you up to date on the happenings in the world of public policy. Below are updates on a number of interesting federal policy developments:
Cost of President’s Health Care Scheme Doubles: The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) updated its cost estimates of the President’s new health care law. In what shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone, the bill won’t cost $940 billion over ten years as the President promised but instead will cost a staggering $1.76 trillion over the same period.
$1.2 Trillion Deficit: CBO also re-released its deficit projections for this year. Renewing the payroll tax holiday and extending unemployment benefits without offsetting them with spending cuts will increase this year’s deficit to $1.2 trillion.
Senate Rejects a Range of Energy Amendments: Over the past week the Senate voted on four amendments of interest; they all needed 60 votes to pass. Senators rejected an effort to finally permit the Keystone pipeline (56-42), rejected an effort to delay EPA’s painful Boiler MACT regulations (52-46), stopped an effort to extend various wasteful alternative energy subsidies (49-49), and thankfully rejected an attempt to subsidize natural gas powered vehicles (51-47). AFP will include all of these key votes in our congressional rankings.
Cost of President’s Health Care Scheme Doubles: The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) updated its cost estimates of the President’s new health care law. In what shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone, the bill won’t cost $940 billion over ten years as the President promised but instead will cost a staggering $1.76 trillion over the same period.
$1.2 Trillion Deficit: CBO also re-released its deficit projections for this year. Renewing the payroll tax holiday and extending unemployment benefits without offsetting them with spending cuts will increase this year’s deficit to $1.2 trillion.
Senate Rejects a Range of Energy Amendments: Over the past week the Senate voted on four amendments of interest; they all needed 60 votes to pass. Senators rejected an effort to finally permit the Keystone pipeline (56-42), rejected an effort to delay EPA’s painful Boiler MACT regulations (52-46), stopped an effort to extend various wasteful alternative energy subsidies (49-49), and thankfully rejected an attempt to subsidize natural gas powered vehicles (51-47). AFP will include all of these key votes in our congressional rankings.
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
Today in Washington DC!
JUMPSTART OUR BUSINESS STARTUPS ACT: Vote Passed (390-23, 19 Not Voting). This House bill would ease reporting and regulatory requirements for small businesses trying to raise capital in order to take the company public. The White House supports the bill, but its path in the Senate is unclear. Rep. Walter Jones voted YES.
BUREAU OF RECLAMATION SMALL CONDUIT HYDROPOWER DEVELOPMENT AN RURAL JOBS ACT OF 2011. Vote Passed (265-154, 13 Not Voting). The House passed this bill that would encourage the development of small-scale hydropower facilities on federal lands. The bill's future in the Senate is unclear. Rep. Walter Jones voted YES.
KEYSTONE XL PIPELINE: During the debate over the transportation bill, the Senate rejected this amendment that would have allowed construction of the Keystone XL pipeline to proceed without presidential approval. Sixty votes were needed to adopt the amendment. FYI, Sen. Richard Burr and Sen. Kay Hagan both voted YES.
THE SENATE: Convened at 10, and this evening by a solid bipartisan majority will vote to pass a two-year, $109 billion revamp of highway and transit programs. The bill, which the House may clear as soon as next week, would give states more flexibility in spending federal transportation money and streamline environmental reviews so projects get started quicker.
Senators will vote at noon on two amendments — one giving states even more flexibility, the other tinkering with the formula for apportioning aid to the states; after their weekly caucus lunches they will vote on as many as 20 more — including proposals to allow states to put toll booths on interstates, create tax credits for cars fueled with natural gas and permit more flights over the Grand Canyon.
THE WHITE HOUSE: Obama just announced that his administration, the EU and Japan have banded together to press an unfair trade practices case against China. They want the WTO to get the country to end export restrictions on tungsten, molybdenum and “rare earth” elements. The minerals are used to make hybrid car batteries, flat-screen TVs, wind turbines, mercury vapor lights, smartphones and camera lenses.
The president is spending the bulk of the rest of the day combining re-election politics, global diplomacy and his intense interest in March Madness. He and British Prime Minister David Cameron will leave the Ellipse at 4:20 en route to Ohio (18 jump-ball electoral votes) — plenty of time to make the 6:30 tipoff at the University of Dayton between Western Kentucky and Mississippi Valley State in the first round of the NCAA men’s basketball tournament. Air Force One will get the two back to Washington by 10:35. (Michelle Obama is doing her part for the “special relationship” by taking Samantha Cameron to a summer-Olympics-in-London-themed “Let’s Move” event for school kids at American University.)
BUREAU OF RECLAMATION SMALL CONDUIT HYDROPOWER DEVELOPMENT AN RURAL JOBS ACT OF 2011. Vote Passed (265-154, 13 Not Voting). The House passed this bill that would encourage the development of small-scale hydropower facilities on federal lands. The bill's future in the Senate is unclear. Rep. Walter Jones voted YES.
KEYSTONE XL PIPELINE: During the debate over the transportation bill, the Senate rejected this amendment that would have allowed construction of the Keystone XL pipeline to proceed without presidential approval. Sixty votes were needed to adopt the amendment. FYI, Sen. Richard Burr and Sen. Kay Hagan both voted YES.
THE SENATE: Convened at 10, and this evening by a solid bipartisan majority will vote to pass a two-year, $109 billion revamp of highway and transit programs. The bill, which the House may clear as soon as next week, would give states more flexibility in spending federal transportation money and streamline environmental reviews so projects get started quicker.
Senators will vote at noon on two amendments — one giving states even more flexibility, the other tinkering with the formula for apportioning aid to the states; after their weekly caucus lunches they will vote on as many as 20 more — including proposals to allow states to put toll booths on interstates, create tax credits for cars fueled with natural gas and permit more flights over the Grand Canyon.
THE WHITE HOUSE: Obama just announced that his administration, the EU and Japan have banded together to press an unfair trade practices case against China. They want the WTO to get the country to end export restrictions on tungsten, molybdenum and “rare earth” elements. The minerals are used to make hybrid car batteries, flat-screen TVs, wind turbines, mercury vapor lights, smartphones and camera lenses.
The president is spending the bulk of the rest of the day combining re-election politics, global diplomacy and his intense interest in March Madness. He and British Prime Minister David Cameron will leave the Ellipse at 4:20 en route to Ohio (18 jump-ball electoral votes) — plenty of time to make the 6:30 tipoff at the University of Dayton between Western Kentucky and Mississippi Valley State in the first round of the NCAA men’s basketball tournament. Air Force One will get the two back to Washington by 10:35. (Michelle Obama is doing her part for the “special relationship” by taking Samantha Cameron to a summer-Olympics-in-London-themed “Let’s Move” event for school kids at American University.)
Friday, February 24, 2012
Message from Congressman Walter B Jones on HR 3408
Last week I voted for H.R. 3408, legislation that would expand oil and gas drilling in the United States, approve the Keystone XL pipeline from Canada, reduce dependence on Middle Eastern oil and lower gas prices. The bill passed by a vote of 237 to 187 and now moves to the Senate for further consideration. Meanwhile, the Obama Administration has announced its opposition to the provisions in H.R. 3408.
Among other things, H.R. 3408 would:
Thanks,
Walter
Among other things, H.R. 3408 would:
- open up Alaska’s Arctic Refuge (ANWR) for oil and gas exploration;
- require the federal government to issue a permit for construction of the Keystone XL pipeline from Canada within 30 days;
- require new oil and gas lease sales in the Gulf of Mexico, and off the coasts of Virginia, California and Alaska; and,
- require up to 37.5% of revenues from federal offshore oil and gas leases to be shared with coastal states within 200 miles of the leased land.
Thanks,
Walter
Friday, February 3, 2012
Message from NC Senator Richard Burr
FYI!
February 3, 2012
Votes this Week: STOCK Act
Our country is facing a grave economic crisis, unemployment is rampant and continues to rise, and our country is further in debt than ever before. Unfortunately, Congress seems unwilling to tackle these pressing, vital issues. The American people are counting on the federal government to pass legislation that will improve our economy and create jobs, and Washington should be voting on policies that will attract capital and get investors off the sidelines so they can create jobs and spur growth.
Much to my dismay, however, the Senate has spent the greater part of this week debating the STOCK Act, a law that would codify what existing law already says. I voted against this bill because it goes without saying that laws regarding insider trading that apply to the American people also apply to members of Congress and their staff. Members of Congress are elected to serve the people, not make money for themselves, and any Member or staff member who breaks the already existing insider trading laws should be held responsible. Rather than wasting time codifying laws that already exist, Washington should take up real legislation focused on what’s most important to American citizens – jobs and the economy. (Mmmmm..not sure I buy that Senator, were they not 'exempt'?)
On Thursday, I spoke with Jerri Jameson on WWNC about my opposition to the STOCK Act, the economy and other news of the day. In case you missed it, you can listen to the interview here or read the full transcript.
Honest Budget Act: Restoring Accountability in Spending
Instead of tackling our economic crisis head on and instituting job-creating policies that restore certainty and predictability, Washington continues to throw money at the problem. Continued levels of high unemployment have shown that this pattern of egregious spending and expanded government have failed and are worsening our current crisis. Our economy is suffering, and now we have record-level debt on top of it.
Washington must learn to live within its means, and this starts with passing an annual budget to fund the federal government. It has been over 1,000 days since Senate Democrats passed a budget, and without one we have no blueprint for our nation’s spending priorities. (1010 to be exact!)
Last fall, I cosponsored the Honest Budget Act which would help restore honesty and accountability in government spending by putting an end to budget gimmicks that make it easier for Washington to spend money it does not have. On Wednesday, my colleagues in the House of Representatives introduced their version of this bill. We owe it to our nation’s taxpayers to govern responsibly and be transparent about how their hard earned dollars are being spent, and this legislation to eliminate dishonesty in the budget process is a step in the right direction.
Keystone XL Pipeline: Energy Security & Job Creation
In another effort to turn our economy around, on Monday I joined 43 other Senators in introducing a bill to continue construction on the Keystone XL pipeline, a project that would take great steps towards improving our energy security as well as create jobs for thousands of American workers. Despite claims that promoting energy security and creating jobs are top priorities, President Obama rejected the permit for the Keystone XL pipeline earlier this month.
Rather than support a project with the potential to create thousands of jobs for American citizens, while also increasing energy supplies from friendly neighbors, the President continues to place politics over policy. Since the President has failed to lead on the issue, our bill would authorize construction on this project under the Commerce Clause of the U.S. Constitution. You can read more about the bill on my website.
Caring for the Victims of Water Contamination at Camp Lejeune
Those of you who are regular readers of this newsletter are well aware of the decades of water contamination at Camp Lejeune that caused many of the Marines, sailors, and their family members who lived or worked on base to become sick, and in some cases die, with various forms of cancer as a result of their exposure to this toxic water. Recently, the U.S. Marine Corps asked the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) to remove parts of its recent study on this issue citing national security concerns. The information they wanted removed has been publicly available for several years, and it is unclear why it suddenly became a security threat and had to be removed from the report.
I fear that removing this information may jeopardize ongoing and future studies of the water contamination at Camp Lejeune, and also worry that this sets a dangerous precedent of withholding information from scientific studies for reasons of national security without adequate legal justification. Last week, I sent a letter to the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), along with Senators Hagan (D-NC), Rubio (R-FL), and Nelson (D-FL) and Congressmen Miller (D-NC) and Dingell (D-MI), asking him to look into the legal soundness of the USMC’s request to redact this previously public information. The men and women of the Camp Lejeune community were sacrificing for our country when they were exposed to harmful chemicals without their knowledge, and we owe it to them to continue investigating how they were affected, spur greater health awareness, and provide them the compensation and care they deserve. To learn more about a bill I introduced to provide care for these men and women, you can read about the Caring for Camp Lejeune Veterans Act on my website.
Making Veterans’ Court of Appeals More Efficient for Veterans
Also this week, I introduced a bill that would require all judges of the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims to reside within 50 miles of Washington, D.C., in order to increase the overall efficiency and effectiveness of the Court. It is no secret that things tend to run more smoothly when those people integral to the day-to-day operations of the Court are present, and if Veterans Court judges have to travel across the country to get to their offices, it could make it extremely difficult for them to fully engage in their case work, manage their staff, and carry out their judicial functions. Our nation’s veterans could suffer from these inefficiencies. By requiring judges to live near the court’s office, we can help ensure that veterans receive the timely decisions from the Court that they deserve and we can keep down costs that result from judges working remotely and regularly traveling to and from Washington.
March for Life
Finally, last week I had the pleasure of meeting with hundreds of North Carolinians who traveled to Washington to take part in the March for Life. It was truly inspiring to see so many individuals and families stand together and rally in support of the sanctity of human life. To view pictures from this year’s March for Life event, click here.
February 3, 2012
Votes this Week: STOCK Act
Our country is facing a grave economic crisis, unemployment is rampant and continues to rise, and our country is further in debt than ever before. Unfortunately, Congress seems unwilling to tackle these pressing, vital issues. The American people are counting on the federal government to pass legislation that will improve our economy and create jobs, and Washington should be voting on policies that will attract capital and get investors off the sidelines so they can create jobs and spur growth.
Much to my dismay, however, the Senate has spent the greater part of this week debating the STOCK Act, a law that would codify what existing law already says. I voted against this bill because it goes without saying that laws regarding insider trading that apply to the American people also apply to members of Congress and their staff. Members of Congress are elected to serve the people, not make money for themselves, and any Member or staff member who breaks the already existing insider trading laws should be held responsible. Rather than wasting time codifying laws that already exist, Washington should take up real legislation focused on what’s most important to American citizens – jobs and the economy. (Mmmmm..not sure I buy that Senator, were they not 'exempt'?)
On Thursday, I spoke with Jerri Jameson on WWNC about my opposition to the STOCK Act, the economy and other news of the day. In case you missed it, you can listen to the interview here or read the full transcript.
Honest Budget Act: Restoring Accountability in Spending
Instead of tackling our economic crisis head on and instituting job-creating policies that restore certainty and predictability, Washington continues to throw money at the problem. Continued levels of high unemployment have shown that this pattern of egregious spending and expanded government have failed and are worsening our current crisis. Our economy is suffering, and now we have record-level debt on top of it.
Washington must learn to live within its means, and this starts with passing an annual budget to fund the federal government. It has been over 1,000 days since Senate Democrats passed a budget, and without one we have no blueprint for our nation’s spending priorities. (1010 to be exact!)
Last fall, I cosponsored the Honest Budget Act which would help restore honesty and accountability in government spending by putting an end to budget gimmicks that make it easier for Washington to spend money it does not have. On Wednesday, my colleagues in the House of Representatives introduced their version of this bill. We owe it to our nation’s taxpayers to govern responsibly and be transparent about how their hard earned dollars are being spent, and this legislation to eliminate dishonesty in the budget process is a step in the right direction.
Keystone XL Pipeline: Energy Security & Job Creation
In another effort to turn our economy around, on Monday I joined 43 other Senators in introducing a bill to continue construction on the Keystone XL pipeline, a project that would take great steps towards improving our energy security as well as create jobs for thousands of American workers. Despite claims that promoting energy security and creating jobs are top priorities, President Obama rejected the permit for the Keystone XL pipeline earlier this month.
Rather than support a project with the potential to create thousands of jobs for American citizens, while also increasing energy supplies from friendly neighbors, the President continues to place politics over policy. Since the President has failed to lead on the issue, our bill would authorize construction on this project under the Commerce Clause of the U.S. Constitution. You can read more about the bill on my website.
Caring for the Victims of Water Contamination at Camp Lejeune
Those of you who are regular readers of this newsletter are well aware of the decades of water contamination at Camp Lejeune that caused many of the Marines, sailors, and their family members who lived or worked on base to become sick, and in some cases die, with various forms of cancer as a result of their exposure to this toxic water. Recently, the U.S. Marine Corps asked the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) to remove parts of its recent study on this issue citing national security concerns. The information they wanted removed has been publicly available for several years, and it is unclear why it suddenly became a security threat and had to be removed from the report.
I fear that removing this information may jeopardize ongoing and future studies of the water contamination at Camp Lejeune, and also worry that this sets a dangerous precedent of withholding information from scientific studies for reasons of national security without adequate legal justification. Last week, I sent a letter to the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), along with Senators Hagan (D-NC), Rubio (R-FL), and Nelson (D-FL) and Congressmen Miller (D-NC) and Dingell (D-MI), asking him to look into the legal soundness of the USMC’s request to redact this previously public information. The men and women of the Camp Lejeune community were sacrificing for our country when they were exposed to harmful chemicals without their knowledge, and we owe it to them to continue investigating how they were affected, spur greater health awareness, and provide them the compensation and care they deserve. To learn more about a bill I introduced to provide care for these men and women, you can read about the Caring for Camp Lejeune Veterans Act on my website.
Making Veterans’ Court of Appeals More Efficient for Veterans
Also this week, I introduced a bill that would require all judges of the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims to reside within 50 miles of Washington, D.C., in order to increase the overall efficiency and effectiveness of the Court. It is no secret that things tend to run more smoothly when those people integral to the day-to-day operations of the Court are present, and if Veterans Court judges have to travel across the country to get to their offices, it could make it extremely difficult for them to fully engage in their case work, manage their staff, and carry out their judicial functions. Our nation’s veterans could suffer from these inefficiencies. By requiring judges to live near the court’s office, we can help ensure that veterans receive the timely decisions from the Court that they deserve and we can keep down costs that result from judges working remotely and regularly traveling to and from Washington.
March for Life
Finally, last week I had the pleasure of meeting with hundreds of North Carolinians who traveled to Washington to take part in the March for Life. It was truly inspiring to see so many individuals and families stand together and rally in support of the sanctity of human life. To view pictures from this year’s March for Life event, click here.
Monday, December 19, 2011
RedState: House Must Decouple Payroll Tax Cut From Broader ‘Extenders’ Package
December 19, 2011
Over the weekend, Mitch McConnell and Senate Republicans obviated the superior leverage of House Republicans by passing a two-month extension of the payroll tax cut, along with a clean extension (no reforms and offsets) of doc fix and unemployment benefits.
In a premature capitulation, they agreed (89-10) to amend the House extenders bill by eliminating most of the spending offsets, all of the UI reforms and the policy riders, with the exception of the Keystone pipeline provision. They will fill in the $33 billion two-month gaping budget hole with nebulous revenue increases from higher Freddie/Fannie mortgages over ten years. To the extent that those revenues will be actualized, this deal will indeed make it harder to shut down these officious venture-socialist enterprises. The Senate action was akin to grounding into a triple play for Team GOP, yet the underlying bill passed with unanimous consent.
Yes – we can already see the ecstatic pronouncements emanating from the McConnell Republican echo chamber. “We got the pipeline,” they will exclaim. But here is the problem: the ship already sailed on that. This issue was such a political liability for Obama that, despite his rhetoric, it was a foregone conclusion he would be forced to cave on it. He was not going to allow this to become an albatross around his neck during the election. Accordingly, the White House is lending enthusiastic support to McConnell’s Senate-passed extension. Besides, due to loopholes in the Keystone provision, the administration is already balking at compliance with the language of the bill.
http://www.redstate.com/dhorowitz3/2011/12/18/house-must-decouple-payroll-tax-cut-from-broader-%E2%80%98extenders%E2%80%99-package/
Over the weekend, Mitch McConnell and Senate Republicans obviated the superior leverage of House Republicans by passing a two-month extension of the payroll tax cut, along with a clean extension (no reforms and offsets) of doc fix and unemployment benefits.
In a premature capitulation, they agreed (89-10) to amend the House extenders bill by eliminating most of the spending offsets, all of the UI reforms and the policy riders, with the exception of the Keystone pipeline provision. They will fill in the $33 billion two-month gaping budget hole with nebulous revenue increases from higher Freddie/Fannie mortgages over ten years. To the extent that those revenues will be actualized, this deal will indeed make it harder to shut down these officious venture-socialist enterprises. The Senate action was akin to grounding into a triple play for Team GOP, yet the underlying bill passed with unanimous consent.
Yes – we can already see the ecstatic pronouncements emanating from the McConnell Republican echo chamber. “We got the pipeline,” they will exclaim. But here is the problem: the ship already sailed on that. This issue was such a political liability for Obama that, despite his rhetoric, it was a foregone conclusion he would be forced to cave on it. He was not going to allow this to become an albatross around his neck during the election. Accordingly, the White House is lending enthusiastic support to McConnell’s Senate-passed extension. Besides, due to loopholes in the Keystone provision, the administration is already balking at compliance with the language of the bill.
http://www.redstate.com/dhorowitz3/2011/12/18/house-must-decouple-payroll-tax-cut-from-broader-%E2%80%98extenders%E2%80%99-package/
Sunday, December 18, 2011
Winston Salem Journal: Roll Call Votes in Congress for December 18, 2011
By Journal Now Staff
Here's how members of North Carolina's congressional delegation voted on major issues in the week ending Friday.
House
2012 military budget: Voting 283-136, the House on Wednesday approved the conference report (HR 1540) on a $662 billion military budget for fiscal 2012, including $117.2 billion for war in Afghanistan and Iraq, $52.5 billion for the military's health care system and $14.9 billion for naval shipbuilding. The bill requires that captured members of organizations such as al-Qaida be held in U.S. military custody and subjected to military justice. But terrorist suspects apprehended on U.S. soil who are U.S. citizens or resident aliens must be assigned to America's civilian criminal-justice system and thus accorded constitutional rights of due process. The bill toughens economic sanctions against Iran by denying access to the U.S. financial system to any foreign bank that conducts business with the Central Bank of Iran.
A yes vote backed the conference report. Voting yes: Reps. G.K. Butterfield, D-1st; Renee Ellmers, R-2nd; Virginia Foxx, R-5th; Mike McIntyre, D-7th; Larry Kissell, D-8th; Patrick T. McHenry, R-10th; Heath Shuler, D-11th.
Voting no: Reps. Walter B. Jones, R-3rd; David E. Price, D-4th; Melvin L. Watt, D-12th; Brad Miller, D-13th. Not voting: Howard Coble, R-6th; Sue Wilkins Myrick, R-9th.
Republican payroll-tax plan: Voting 234-193, the House on Tuesday passed a Republican bill (HR 3630) to renew through 2012 the temporary law under which employees this year are contributing 4.2 percent of their pay rather than the standard 6.2 percent to the Social Security Trust Fund. The bill also would speed construction of the proposed Keystone XL oil pipeline from Canada to southern Texas; repeal Environmental Protection Agency air pollution curbs on industrial boilers; extend soon-to-expire unemployment benefits for the long-term jobless; reduce the maximum number of weeks for jobless checks from 99 to 59 while allowing states to impose requirements such as testing recipients for drugs; extend for two years existing Medicare reimbursement rates for doctors; and allow businesses to write off 100 percent of capital investments in a single year. The bill awaited Senate action.
A yes vote was to pass the bill. Voting yes: Ellmers, Jones, Foxx, Myrick, McHenry
Voting no: Butterfield, Price, McIntyre, Kissell, Shuler, Watt, Miller. Not voting: Coble.
Sanctions on Iran: Voting 410-11, the House on Wednesday sent the Senate a bill (HR 1905) to toughen existing U.S. economic sanctions on Iran.
A yes vote was to pass the bill. Voting yes: Butterfield, Ellmers, Jones, Price, Foxx, McIntyre, Kissell, McHenry, Shuler, Watt, Miller Not voting: Coble, Myrick
2012 intelligence budget: Voting 396-23, the House on Friday sent to President Barack Obama the conference report on a fiscal 2012 budget (HR 1892) of about $55 billion for U.S. intelligence agencies, up 4 percent from 2011. When certain military outlays are counted, the total U.S. spy budget for 2012 is expected to top $85 billion. A yes vote backed the conference report.
Voting yes: Butterfield, Ellmers, Price, Foxx, McIntyre, Kissell, McHenry, Shuler, Watt, Miller
Voting no: Jones Not voting: Coble, Myrick
Fiscal 2012 appropriations: Voting 296-121, the House on Friday sent to the Senate a bill (HR 2055) to appropriate $915 billion in fiscal 2012 for the 10 Cabinet departments and related agencies that have not yet received regular appropriations three months into the budget year. Among the bill's many policy changes are ones to delay new energy-efficiency standard for light bulbs and bar the District of Columbia from using its own funds to finance abortions. The bill grants major spending increases to the Pentagon and Securities and Exchange Commission while imposing flat, reduced or only slightly increased budgets on most other departments and agencies. When combined with regular appropriations enacted last month, the bill raises total 2012 discretionary spending to the $1.043 trillion mark set by last summer's bipartisan deal on raising the debt ceiling.
A yes vote was to pass the bill. Voting yes: Butterfield, Ellmers, Price, Foxx, McIntyre, Kissell, Myrick, Shuler, Watt, Miller
Voting no: Jones, McHenry. Not voting: Coble
CONTINUED:
http://www2.journalnow.com/news/2011/dec/18/wsmet14-roll-call-votes-in-congress-for-dec-18-ar-1726099/
Here's how members of North Carolina's congressional delegation voted on major issues in the week ending Friday.
House
2012 military budget: Voting 283-136, the House on Wednesday approved the conference report (HR 1540) on a $662 billion military budget for fiscal 2012, including $117.2 billion for war in Afghanistan and Iraq, $52.5 billion for the military's health care system and $14.9 billion for naval shipbuilding. The bill requires that captured members of organizations such as al-Qaida be held in U.S. military custody and subjected to military justice. But terrorist suspects apprehended on U.S. soil who are U.S. citizens or resident aliens must be assigned to America's civilian criminal-justice system and thus accorded constitutional rights of due process. The bill toughens economic sanctions against Iran by denying access to the U.S. financial system to any foreign bank that conducts business with the Central Bank of Iran.
A yes vote backed the conference report. Voting yes: Reps. G.K. Butterfield, D-1st; Renee Ellmers, R-2nd; Virginia Foxx, R-5th; Mike McIntyre, D-7th; Larry Kissell, D-8th; Patrick T. McHenry, R-10th; Heath Shuler, D-11th.
Voting no: Reps. Walter B. Jones, R-3rd; David E. Price, D-4th; Melvin L. Watt, D-12th; Brad Miller, D-13th. Not voting: Howard Coble, R-6th; Sue Wilkins Myrick, R-9th.
Republican payroll-tax plan: Voting 234-193, the House on Tuesday passed a Republican bill (HR 3630) to renew through 2012 the temporary law under which employees this year are contributing 4.2 percent of their pay rather than the standard 6.2 percent to the Social Security Trust Fund. The bill also would speed construction of the proposed Keystone XL oil pipeline from Canada to southern Texas; repeal Environmental Protection Agency air pollution curbs on industrial boilers; extend soon-to-expire unemployment benefits for the long-term jobless; reduce the maximum number of weeks for jobless checks from 99 to 59 while allowing states to impose requirements such as testing recipients for drugs; extend for two years existing Medicare reimbursement rates for doctors; and allow businesses to write off 100 percent of capital investments in a single year. The bill awaited Senate action.
A yes vote was to pass the bill. Voting yes: Ellmers, Jones, Foxx, Myrick, McHenry
Voting no: Butterfield, Price, McIntyre, Kissell, Shuler, Watt, Miller. Not voting: Coble.
Sanctions on Iran: Voting 410-11, the House on Wednesday sent the Senate a bill (HR 1905) to toughen existing U.S. economic sanctions on Iran.
A yes vote was to pass the bill. Voting yes: Butterfield, Ellmers, Jones, Price, Foxx, McIntyre, Kissell, McHenry, Shuler, Watt, Miller Not voting: Coble, Myrick
2012 intelligence budget: Voting 396-23, the House on Friday sent to President Barack Obama the conference report on a fiscal 2012 budget (HR 1892) of about $55 billion for U.S. intelligence agencies, up 4 percent from 2011. When certain military outlays are counted, the total U.S. spy budget for 2012 is expected to top $85 billion. A yes vote backed the conference report.
Voting yes: Butterfield, Ellmers, Price, Foxx, McIntyre, Kissell, McHenry, Shuler, Watt, Miller
Voting no: Jones Not voting: Coble, Myrick
Fiscal 2012 appropriations: Voting 296-121, the House on Friday sent to the Senate a bill (HR 2055) to appropriate $915 billion in fiscal 2012 for the 10 Cabinet departments and related agencies that have not yet received regular appropriations three months into the budget year. Among the bill's many policy changes are ones to delay new energy-efficiency standard for light bulbs and bar the District of Columbia from using its own funds to finance abortions. The bill grants major spending increases to the Pentagon and Securities and Exchange Commission while imposing flat, reduced or only slightly increased budgets on most other departments and agencies. When combined with regular appropriations enacted last month, the bill raises total 2012 discretionary spending to the $1.043 trillion mark set by last summer's bipartisan deal on raising the debt ceiling.
A yes vote was to pass the bill. Voting yes: Butterfield, Ellmers, Price, Foxx, McIntyre, Kissell, Myrick, Shuler, Watt, Miller
Voting no: Jones, McHenry. Not voting: Coble
CONTINUED:
http://www2.journalnow.com/news/2011/dec/18/wsmet14-roll-call-votes-in-congress-for-dec-18-ar-1726099/
Friday, December 16, 2011
News from The Hill: House expected to return next week after passing stop gap
December 16, 2011
By Erik Wasson
House lawmakers expect to leave town Friday and return next week to deal with extending the payroll tax holiday.
Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) told his caucus to expect a two-month extension of the payroll tax holiday to be sent to the House by the Senate.
He also said the House will insist that language be added to the bill that is intended to force the administration to approve the Keystone oil sands pipeline from Alberta to the Gulf Coast. The White House has said Obama would reject a bill with that language.
CONTINUED: http://thehill.com/homenews/house/199907-house-to-approve-short-term-spending-measure-and-return-next-week
By Erik Wasson
House lawmakers expect to leave town Friday and return next week to deal with extending the payroll tax holiday.
Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) told his caucus to expect a two-month extension of the payroll tax holiday to be sent to the House by the Senate.
He also said the House will insist that language be added to the bill that is intended to force the administration to approve the Keystone oil sands pipeline from Alberta to the Gulf Coast. The White House has said Obama would reject a bill with that language.
CONTINUED: http://thehill.com/homenews/house/199907-house-to-approve-short-term-spending-measure-and-return-next-week
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
House Passes Payroll Tax Cut Extension With Keystone Pipeline Provision
WASHINGTON (The Blaze/AP) — Defiant Republicans pushed legislation through the House Tuesday night that would keep alive Social Security payroll tax cuts for some 160 million Americans at President Barack Obama’s request – but also would require construction of a Canada-to-Texas oil pipeline that has sparked a White House veto threat.
Passage, on a largely party-line vote of 234-193, sent the measure toward its certain demise in the Democratic-controlled Senate, triggering the final partisan showdown of a remarkably quarrelsome year of divided government.
The legislation “extends the payroll tax relief, extends and reforms unemployment insurance and protects Social Security – without job-killing tax hikes,” Republican House Speaker John Boehner declared after the measure had cleared.
Referring to the controversy over the Keystone XL pipeline, he added, “Our bill includes sensible, bipartisan measures to help the private sector create jobs.”
On a long day of finger pointing, however, House Democrats accused Republicans of protecting “millionaires and billionaires, `’ and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., derided the GOP-backed pipeline provision as “ideological candy” for the tea party-set.
http://www.theblaze.com/stories/house-passes-payroll-tax-cut-extension-with-oil-pipeline-provision/
Passage, on a largely party-line vote of 234-193, sent the measure toward its certain demise in the Democratic-controlled Senate, triggering the final partisan showdown of a remarkably quarrelsome year of divided government.
The legislation “extends the payroll tax relief, extends and reforms unemployment insurance and protects Social Security – without job-killing tax hikes,” Republican House Speaker John Boehner declared after the measure had cleared.
Referring to the controversy over the Keystone XL pipeline, he added, “Our bill includes sensible, bipartisan measures to help the private sector create jobs.”
On a long day of finger pointing, however, House Democrats accused Republicans of protecting “millionaires and billionaires, `’ and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., derided the GOP-backed pipeline provision as “ideological candy” for the tea party-set.
http://www.theblaze.com/stories/house-passes-payroll-tax-cut-extension-with-oil-pipeline-provision/
Monday, December 12, 2011
Top 11 Big Government Busts Of 2011: #10
Here is a look at jobs that could have been but were blocked. Here’s the tale of the Keystone XL pipeline. See how this made our Top 11 Big Government Busts of 2011.
Friday, November 18, 2011
Did President Obama Kill Thousands of Jobs?
If Americans needed any further proof that the Obama Administration is one of the most political on record, or that, for all the recent demagoguing, it really cares only about re-election, not about job creation, then you need look no further than its cynical Keystone XL oil pipeline decision last week.
http://www.askheritage.org/did-president-obama-kill-thousands-of-jobs/?utm_source=AH_Weekly&utm_medium=Email&utm_content=2011-11-18&utm_campaign=2011_Brand
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