Last updated on March 24th, 2013 at 06:56 pm
Seventeen Senate Democrats ignored the facts about Keystone XL, and joined with Republicans to pass a measure urging the construction of the pipeline.
The Hovan Amendment (494) passed the Senate by a vote of 62-37. 17 Democrats joined with Republicans in getting the non-binding measure passed.
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The amendment repeated all of the Big Oil lies about Keystone XL, “The Hoeven-Baucus measure established a formal recognition by the U.S. Senate that the Keystone XL pipeline, a major energy infrastructure project, will boost the nation’s economic growth and contribute revenues to the United States Treasury. Just prior to passage of the Hoeven-Baucus Amendment, a second amendment that attempted to put delays and restrictions on the project was defeated by a vote of 33 to 66, making it very clear that the Administration should not delay or put more restrictions on the Keystone XL pipeline.”
The amendment was co-sponsored by Democrats Baucus (D-MT), Manchin (D-WV), Heitkamp (D-ND), Landrieu (D-LA), and Begich (D-AK). Besides coming from states where oil plays a big role in the economy, each of these Democrats have also taken hundreds of thousands to millions of dollars from Big Oil.
According to The Price of Oil,
Senator Baucus has received more than $680,000 from fossil fuel interests
Senator Manchin has received more than $1 MILLION from fossil fuel interests
Senator Heitkamp has received $47,450 from fossil fuel interests (in just one Senate race in a small state)
Senator Landrieu has received more than $1.25 MILLION from fossil fuel interests
Senator Begich has received more than $212,000 from fossil fuel interests (in just one Senate race)
The five Democratic co-sponsors were joined by Democrats, Bennet (D-CO), Carper (D-DE), Casey (D-PA), Coons (D-DE), Donnelly (D-IN), Hagan (D-NC), Johnson (D-SD), McCaskill (D-MO), Nelson (D-FL), Pryor (D-AR), Tester (D-MT), Warner (D-VA).
Sen. Heitkamp repeated the falsehoods that Keystone XL will be a job creator that will reduce our dependence on foreign oil, “I support this amendment because the Keystone XL pipeline will create good-paying American jobs and reduce our dependence on foreign oil. This project has undergone a thorough review and it is time to approve construction of the pipeline.”
The truth is that these seventeen Democrats chose to vote in favor of a lie, instead of going home and telling their constituents the truth about Keystone XL. They didn’t want to have to defend a no vote on this amendment by admitting that Keystone XL won’t create jobs. The pipeline won’t boost our economy, and since all of the oil will belong to the oil companies, it won’t help our country become more energy independent.
Some of the same Senate Democrats that many of you worked hard to elect have taken Big Oil’s money, and turned their backs on their supporters. The good news is that the amendment was non-binding, but these Democrats have made their intentions clear. Keystone XL will only help Big Oil get richer, while America will be stuck with a the ticking time bomb of pipeline that will be an environmental disaster waiting to happen.
Jason is the managing editor. He is also a White House Press Pool and a Congressional correspondent for PoliticusUSA. Jason has a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science. His graduate work focused on public policy, with a specialization in social reform movements.
Awards and Professional Memberships
Member of the Society of Professional Journalists and The American Political Science Association
