Michigan Democratic Rep. Sandy Levin claimed in an interview with The Daily Caller that the Keystone XL oil pipeline, which Republican senators are pushing the Obama administration to authorize, would in “no way” address the “immediate” need for jobs.
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“Look, it’s under review but no way was that going to address the immediate jobs picture. No way. So the senators who are talking about the pipeline should now get busy and support proposals that will bring jobs right away,” Levin told TheDC at the Capitol on Wednesday.
Republican senators argued at the Capitol on Wednesday that the project would reduce America’s dependence on foreign oil and create over 20,000 jobs. The lawmakers have proposed a bill that would require the Secretary of State to grant the permit for the pipeline.
“Unfortunately, [it’s] pretty apparent the president has decided to delay this past the election,” said Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, a sponsor of the bill.
“If I were speculating about the political calculation, I guess I would conclude that he’s looked along the pipeline and concluded he’s not likely to carry any of those states and so by delaying it, he obviously is making an effort here to curry favor with environmental activists.”
Republican Sens. Dick Lugar of Indiana, David Vitter of Louisiana, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Mike Johanns of Nebraska and John Hoeven of North Dakota are also sponsoring the legislation.
According to CNN, oil has helped North Dakota become the state with the lowest unemployment rate in the country.
“Among the small towns that lie along the Bakken oil formation, like Williston, Watford City and Belfield, unemployment is just 1.5%,” said the CNN Money report. “Many of the highest-paying jobs are at oil companies, where workers make an average salary of about $100,000, often with little-to-no experience or need for a college degree.”