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Republicans Give the Kochs and Big Oil Billions Annually To Export Domestic Oil
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Hey, remember back in the 80s when we were told that US OIL would be here for the next century, by us importing and depleting the oil reserves of foreign countries first--keeping our national reserve? Americans sacrificed trillions in money, sending a large portion of it to other countries. Well, guess what?
Keeping to the three paragraph except limit, here are some of the contents--not all!
As is their typical practice, Republicans are inserting a “rider” in the omnibus spending bill that eliminates the ban on American oil exports that was developed specifically to protect American consumers financially and strengthen America’s energy independence; it was also a means of protecting the environment. Republicans could hardly pass up an opportunity to provide the oil industry with an additional $22 billion annually in pure profits, increase fuel prices for American consumers quite substantially, increase carbon emission damage to the climate, and make America more dependent on Middle East oil; likely controlled by ISIS.
It is not unique for Republicans to insert several riders in spending bills that specifically cut environmental protections and attacks on the EPA, or to insert them in a last-minute attempt to keep government operating. Of course adding riders in lieu of legislation that would never pass, or survive a Presidential veto is nothing new any more than Republicans providing the oil industry with profits at the expense of the population or the environment is not new; it is why the Koch brothers bought control of Congress.
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Within 5 years that $22 billion annually will grow to $170 billion annually with nary a red cent going to America or the people. It is the Republican way of saying sod the environment and President Obama’s efforts to combat climate change because the Kochs and big oil need billions more in profits annually while American consumers take a hit on their energy costs, their environment and their health.
It is not unique for Republicans to insert several riders in spending bills that specifically cut environmental protections and attacks on the EPA, or to insert them in a last-minute attempt to keep government operating. Of course adding riders in lieu of legislation that would never pass, or survive a Presidential veto is nothing new any more than Republicans providing the oil industry with profits at the expense of the population or the environment is not new; it is why the Koch brothers bought control of Congress.
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Within 5 years that $22 billion annually will grow to $170 billion annually with nary a red cent going to America or the people. It is the Republican way of saying sod the environment and President Obama’s efforts to combat climate change because the Kochs and big oil need billions more in profits annually while American consumers take a hit on their energy costs, their environment and their health.
http://www.politicususa.com/2015/12/11/republicans-give-kochs-big-oil-billions-annually-export-domestic-oil.html
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2 replies
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...that the project would create jobs here in the US and lower the price of gas since we wouldn't have to import it?
On jobs--
How many jobs will the Keystone XL pipeline create?
Despite Keystone XL supporters waxing lyrical about the prospect of thousands of new jobs, the employment picture isn’t so rosy. In short, the State Department expects that the project would only result in only a few permanent jobs that last past construction.
Many proponents, like TransCanada CEO Russ Girling, say the project will create 42,000 jobs. Girling said these jobs would be "ongoing, enduring," and we rated that claim False.
The State Department report does puts the total number of jobs at 42,100 -- but the definition of a job in this sense is a position filled for one year. This total reflects both jobs created directly as a result of construction and manufacturing for the pipeline -- about 3,900 annual positions over two years -- as well as spin-off jobs supported by construction workers who purchase materials for the project or spend their wages in the economy. Much of the construction work would come in four- or or eight-month stretches.
House Speaker Rep. John Boehner, R-Ohio, said "The nearly six-year delay in approving Keystone is costing Americans more than 100,000 jobs." He was citing a study that experts said was flawed and that TransCanada, said was "no longer relevant." We rated that statement False.
In saying the number of jobs the project would create are insignificant, Obama said the "most realistic estimates… are maybe 2,000 jobs during the construction of the pipeline." Based on the State Department report, we also rated that claim False.
The construction phase, though, is expected to take only one to two years. After construction, the pipeline would employ a lesser number, primarily for maintenance. The total number of long-term jobs: about 50.
Politifact
Despite Keystone XL supporters waxing lyrical about the prospect of thousands of new jobs, the employment picture isn’t so rosy. In short, the State Department expects that the project would only result in only a few permanent jobs that last past construction.
Many proponents, like TransCanada CEO Russ Girling, say the project will create 42,000 jobs. Girling said these jobs would be "ongoing, enduring," and we rated that claim False.
The State Department report does puts the total number of jobs at 42,100 -- but the definition of a job in this sense is a position filled for one year. This total reflects both jobs created directly as a result of construction and manufacturing for the pipeline -- about 3,900 annual positions over two years -- as well as spin-off jobs supported by construction workers who purchase materials for the project or spend their wages in the economy. Much of the construction work would come in four- or or eight-month stretches.
House Speaker Rep. John Boehner, R-Ohio, said "The nearly six-year delay in approving Keystone is costing Americans more than 100,000 jobs." He was citing a study that experts said was flawed and that TransCanada, said was "no longer relevant." We rated that statement False.
In saying the number of jobs the project would create are insignificant, Obama said the "most realistic estimates… are maybe 2,000 jobs during the construction of the pipeline." Based on the State Department report, we also rated that claim False.
The construction phase, though, is expected to take only one to two years. After construction, the pipeline would employ a lesser number, primarily for maintenance. The total number of long-term jobs: about 50.
Politifact
On cheaper gas--
"Midwest drivers would be hardest hit because the region currently imports more than half of its oil for refining from Canada," according to Consumer Watchdog, a nonprofit public interest group. "Increases at the pump could range from 25 cents to 40 cents a gallon, depending on how regional refineries respond to paying $20 to $30 more per 42-gallon barrel for Canadian crude oil."
A 2011 report by Cornell University's Global Labor Institute projected that the Keystone's rerouting of oil from the Midwest would end up costing the region up to $4 billion in higher gas prices, which it said would "suppress other spending and will therefore cost jobs."
CBS News
A 2011 report by Cornell University's Global Labor Institute projected that the Keystone's rerouting of oil from the Midwest would end up costing the region up to $4 billion in higher gas prices, which it said would "suppress other spending and will therefore cost jobs."
CBS News
Only 50 permanent jobs and higher gas prices in the Midwest? Republicans are such liars!
