Keystone XL Pipeline

President Obama has put politics ahead of what's good for the country by all but eliminating the Keystone XL Pipeline, which would go along way toward job creation and energy independence. This gets under my skin. I have never written to one of my congress persons or senators as I always thought it would just be another letter that got tossed and not read. But I did this time, to Senator Bob Corker (R) Tennessee. To my surprise I received an answer, and while it may be a form letter, it delves into my concerns and and his stand on the issue...I appreciate that. I share that letter with you:

Dear Mr. Harrison,

Thank you for taking the time to contact my office with your support for the Keystone XL pipeline. Your input is important to me, and I appreciate the time you took to share your thoughts.

As you know, it was recently announced that a permit for the proposed Keystone XL oil pipeline from the U.S.-Canadian border in Montana to refineries on the U.S. Gulf Coast has been formally denied by the Obama administration. This decision is disturbing and puts election year politics ahead of economic growth and energy security.

I couldn't agree with you more about the importance of approving the Keystone XL pipeline. With the unemployment rate near 9%, it is entirely unreasonable for the administration to reject a project that reports indicate would have created up to 20,000 direct jobs immediately and could have created tens of thousands of indirect jobs. Further, its rejection inhibits U.S. access to 800,000 barrels of Canadian oil daily from a stable and dependable economic partner, reinforcing our dependence on the Middle East and other volatile oil producing countries. Additionally, the State Department had already conducted a thorough review of the environmental impacts of the Keystone XL pipeline, finding that it would have no significant impact on the environment.

At a time when growing our economy and promoting American jobs should be our first priority, the administration has consistently hindered our prospects for growth through overzealous regulations and inexcusable inactions that have taken us further away from energy independence. Securing America's energy future must be a national goal that comes ahead of politics. As your Senator and a member of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, I will continue to work responsibly to secure America's energy future, protecting both our national and economic security for generations to come.

Thank you again for your letter. I hope you will continue to share your thoughts with me.
Sincerely,

Bob Corker
United States Senator