---

Additional Titles

 

By Attorney Jonathan Emord
Author of "The Rise of Tyranny" and
"Global Censorship of Health Information" and
"Restore The Republic"
February 2, 2015
NewsWithViews.com

President Obama stands poised to veto the Keystone XL pipeline bill when it finally reaches his desk. That bill, approved in the House and likely to be approved in the Senate, would permit completion of TransCanada’s oil pipeline system that would run from Hardisty, Alberta, Canada, all the way to refineries in Houston, Texas. It would supply some one million plus barrels of oil a day into Mid-West and Texas refineries, roughly one-seventh of the amount of oil the U.S. now imports. It would contribute significantly to American continent oil independence, creating more downward pressure on oil prices while expanding opportunities for employment in oil refineries.

Despite the fact that there is little sound basis for environmental objections to the pipeline, TransCanada has repeatedly altered its plans to accommodate environmental concerns, most notably redirecting the pipeline to avoid Nebraksa’s Sands Hills region. Although federal courts have rejected suits calling into question environmental impact and agencies of the federal government have failed to establish any major concern, the Administration has refused to grant the TransCanada application for authority to proceed. Indeed, this past April, President Obama once again acted to prevent TransCanada from moving forward by extending indefinitely consideration of the company’s application.

Even Nebraska’s Supreme Court and Nebraska’s Governor Dave Heineman, in a state that had long been a focal point of environmentalist rage, have concluded that the project poses little threat to the environment. They now endorse full construction along the path identified by TransCanada Corporation.

In point of fact, there are thousands of miles of pipeline that run across the United States, including through Nebraska and through the Ogallala Aquifer in Kansas, Colorado, and Nebraska. Those pipelines have a remarkable safety record, remaining intact even in the face of earthquake activity.

The Administration thus panders to its base by flaming the fires of hysteria over the pipeline in political theater that has little basis in reality. What else is new in Washington? Nevertheless, this time, the stakes are high because TransCanada with the full support of the Canadian government could abandon the project and export the oil to other oil hungry countries if the Republican Congress is unable to acquire the votes needed to override Obama’s anticipated veto.

Subscribe to NewsWithViews Daily Email Alerts Email Address * First Name *required field

This is one clear opportunity to reduce dependency on oil from the Middle East, expand opportunity in the United States, and add to the downward pressure exerted on oil prices, benefiting everyone. For the sake of speculation over highly unlikely adverse effects to the environment, President Obama is willing to sacrifice the interests of the nation in energy independence. No wonder he thought it appropriate to take half of the top ranking officials in his Administration (including himself, the first lady, Secretary of State Kerry, CIA Director John Brennan, and Commander of the U.S. Central Command General Lloyd Austin) to the funeral of Saudi King Abdullah. He would rather have America kowtow to the Saudi regime than take steps to unleash the power of American free enterprise in replacing Middle East oil with domestic sources.

Click here to visit NewsWithViews.com home page.

© 2015 Jonathan W. Emord - All Rights Reserved

Share This Article

Click Here For Mass E-mailing