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Keystone XL Pipeline
How Obama Might OK Pipeline
By Gerald F. Seib
2/19/13
One of President Barack Obama's trickiest political tasks early in his second term has nothing to do with taxes, budget or the debt ceiling. Rather, it will be his decision this spring on whether to give the go-ahead to the Keystone XL pipeline.
Keystone XL—the proposed new spur of a transcontinental pipeline that would carry heavy crude oil from Canada to refineries on the U.S. Gulf Coast—was splitting Mr. Obama's Democratic coalition even before it became highly politicized when a decision was put off during last year's presidential campaign.
Now, the temperature is rising. Environmentalists, whose admiration for Mr. Obama is about matched by their hatred of the pipeline and the oil it would transport, were busy over the weekend protesting in Washington in an attempt to stop the pipeline.
Still, unions back the idea because of the construction and refining jobs it could create, and nine Democratic senators have joined 44 Republicans in a letter asking for approval. There is ample reason to think the second-term Obama White House, seeing openings to shake America's dependence on Middle East oil, would like to find a way to give the green light.
And if that's so, a combination of forces are lining up in a way that should make it possible for Mr. Obama to get to a "yes" answer, while limiting the political fallout. One argument Mr. Obama can muster for Keystone XL is that the delay in approval that he ordered last year has worked, at least as far as environmental concerns go. It bought time for a change that addresses a principal worry, which was the route of the pipeline.
Initially, the pipeline was to go through Nebraska's ecologically sensitive Sand Hills region. Even within deep-red Nebraska, environmental concerns about that route ran high enough to create a roadblock. Now, the route has been changed. A Nebraska state agency said last month the environmental risks of this new route would be "minimal," and Republican Gov. Dave Heineman just gave it a green light.
Environmental groups aren't concerned merely with the route of the pipeline, of course, but with its very reason for existence: its use in facilitating the further burning of oil, and specifically oil extracted from Canada's tar sands, which is dirtier than average to produce.
But on this front, the pipeline's symbolic importance outstrips its practical impact. Stopping Keystone won't stop Canada from producing the oil. The Canadians have too much invested in oil-sands extraction to simply stop.
One likely effect of shutting down the pipeline—aside from deeply straining U.S.-Canadian relations—would be to divert the same oil into exports to Asia, for use by China, a country that is doing far less on other fronts to deal with climate change and dirty auto emissions than is the U.S. More immediately, tar-sands oil still would find its way to the U.S. by other routes—rail, truck and other pipelines—meaning its use won't be extinguished, but the efficiency by which it is brought to market would be diminished.
More important, though, is the broader environmental backdrop of the Keystone decisions. The U.S. is starting to make meaningful progress on reducing greenhouse-gas emissions, despite the hard reality that it can't yet shake its addiction to oil.
Thanks to a combination of forces—the increasing use of relatively clean natural gas, improved energy efficiency and, yes, a world-wide recession—the U.S. actually is on track to meet its goal of reducing its greenhouse-gas emissions to 17% below 2005 levels by 2020, a goal Mr. Obama laid out in late 2009. The U.S. is outpacing Europe in reducing carbon emissions.
Which opens the door to the real path Mr. Obama can travel in selling Keystone XL approval to his party's base. It is possible to combine Keystone with other environmental moves to show that progress in cutting greenhouse gases will continue even as the pipeline is built.
In his State of the Union address last week, Mr. Obama called on Congress to construct a "bipartisan, market-based solution to climate change," citing specifically an approach Republican Sen. John McCain and then-Democratic Sen. Joe Lieberman advanced several years ago. But if Congress doesn't act, Mr. Obama said, he would explore "executive actions" to reduce pollution and address climate change. That suggests the president would consider moving beyond an existing Environmental Protection Agency proposal to regulate emissions from new power plants and perhaps put new limits on emissions from existing coal-powered plants.
Whatever the president has in mind specifically, it should be easier to sell Keystone XL if that decision is paired with one showing that the progress the U.S. already has made on climate change will continue, even if the U.S. can't soon kick its oil habit. That is precisely the picture Mr. Obama ought to be able to paint as the big decision point nears.
Original article here
Terry Votes to Lower Student Loan Rates
May 23, 2013
WASHINGTON – Representative Lee Terry (R-NE) today made the following statement after the House passed the Smarter Solutions for Students Act by a vote of 221-198:
“The Smarter Solutions for Students Act permanently fixes a law passed in 2007 by the Democratic-led Congress that will cause rates for student loans jump to nearly 6.8% in July.
“High interest rates are a great concern to me and that’s why I was proud to support this legislation today. We must keep these rates down.
“From the policy perspective, as Chairman of the Commerce, Manufacturing and Trade Subcommittee, I’m hearing from manufacturers across the country and in Omaha that there are jobs available but there isn’t enough skilled labor in the workforce.
“Fr...
House Passes Terry Legislation to Build Keystone Pipeline
May 22, 2013
Terry: “Our nation of builders needs these jobs.”
WASHINGTON – Representative Lee Terry (R-NE) today released the following statement after his legislation, The Northern Route Approval Act (H.R. 3) passed the U.S. House of Representatives with a bipartisan vote of 241-175-1:
“When the President went to a manufacturing facility to promote his executive order designed to expedite the federal permitting process; he highlighted how significant delays hamper job creation.
“So it’s timely the House today passed my legislation to approve the Keystone XL Pipeline. Congress wouldn’t have acted without all of the bureaucratic tricks and delays ...
Keystone XL: “It’s a win-win for jobs and our energy security”
May 22, 2013
Rep. Terry Delivers Remarks on the House Floor on The Northern Route Approval Act
WASHINGTON – Representative Lee Terry (R-NE) today delivered the following remarks on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives in support of moving forward with debate and in support of his legislation the Northern Route Approval Act(H.R. 3):
“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to support this rule and urge support for my legislation H.R. 3, the Northern Route Approval Act.
“Some may say I’m being impatient. But, it’s been over 1,700 days since the initial permits were filed. Enough with the paralysis-by-analysis.
“This delay has taken longer than it took the Greatest Generation to wi...
Terry Applauds President Obama on Order to Expedite Federal Permitting Process
May 17, 2013
WASHINGTON – With the most comprehensive legislation to date to approve the Keystone XL Pipeline coming to the floor of the U.S. House next week, Chairman of the Commerce, Manufacturing and Trade Subcommittee Congressman Lee Terry (R-NE) today applauded the President’s appearance at a Baltimore manufacturing plant to announce his plan to expedite the federal permitting process:
“I commend the President for recognizing the importance of our nation of builders and the important role they play in creating high-paying jobs with benefits as our economy continues to recover.
“It's about time the President recognize that the on-going delays in the federal permitting process hurts job creation and ultimately our econom...
Terry Statement on Benghazi Hearings
May 08, 2013
WASHINGTON – Representative Lee Terry (R-NE) today made the following statement on the ongoing investigation and hearings being conducted by the House Oversight and Government Reform committee on the September 11, 2012 terrorist attacks at the U.S. mission in Benghazi, Libya:
“I want to commend Chairman Issa for the yeoman’s work he’s put into getting to the truth of what happened that day in Benghazi. The American people and in particular, the families of the victims of this terrorist attack deserve to know the truth.
“Three days after the attack, I led some of my colleagues in sending a letter to Chairman Issa and Chairwomen Ros-Lehtinen urging them to conduct hearings on how we can better protect our diplomats abroad. In November, I w...
Sequestration Page
Congressman Terry on Impact of Sequester on Department of Defense Civilian Personnel
February 20, 2013
OMAHA, NE – Representative Lee Terry (R-NE) today made the following statement in response to the Pentagon’s announcement that 800,000 civilian personnel will be furloughed as part of sequestration:
“Two years ago when the President proposed sequestration as part of a grand bargain; I supported it in good faith. My assumption was this President was willing to work with Congress to reform out-of-control Washington spending and reduce our national debt. Unfortunately, the emphasis from the President has been on raising taxes rather than cutting spending.
“Therefore, I've joined my colleague's, twice voting to end the sequester and put in place common sense reforms that will reduce our deficit and prevent these devastating cuts.
“Today’s announcement by the Pentagon is disappointing. It makes no sense for us to go through with the sequester when the Federal government by its own estimates has made over $115 billion in improper entitlement payments; is spending billions each year maintaining vacant government buildings; and, paying $1.2 million for seniors to play video games in the name of ‘research’.
“Everyone knows we can’t continue to kick the can down the road. And these civilian personnel, some of whom are my constituents and work at Offut AFB, shouldn’t be used as political footballs.
“When I held my first hearing last week as Chairman of the Commerce, Manufacturing and Trade subcommittee, I did so in cooperation with my colleagues across the aisle. The result was a bipartisan tone that I hope will continue through this Congress.
“There is time still left. The President can set a bipartisan tone and I urge him to come to the table rather than putting this crucial part of our national security on the menu."
3 Omissions from President Obama's Press Conference on His Sequester
1. The sequester was President Obama's idea.
- President Obama and his team were the first to propose the sequester. Bob Woodward and Jay Carney both confirmed this over the past week.
2. Republicans passed two plans to replace the President's sequester, yet Senate Democrats have passed no replacement.
- House Republicans took steps to replace President Obama's sequestration, passing bills on two separate occasions to replace the sequester with responsible spending cuts and reforms. The Democratic-controlled Senate did not consider either bill.
- H.R. 5652, Sequester Replacement Reconciliation Act
- H.R. 6684, Spending Reduction Act of 2012
3. In 2013 the federal government will take in more revenue than ever before.
- The Congressional Budget Office has project the government will take in $2.7 trillion in revenues in 2013 – more revenue than it ever has before. (The Budget and Economic Outlook: Fiscal Years 2013 to 2023, Congressional Budget Office, February 2013)
Gop Leaders Slam Obama sequester speech
By Jake Sherman
Congressional Republican leaders slammed President Barack Obama’s sequester speech Tuesday with only two weeks to go until massive across-the-board spending cuts take effect.
House Speaker John Boehner asked what “spending is the president willing to cut” to keep first responders employed.
“Washington Democrats’ newfound concern about the president’s sequester is appreciated, but words alone won’t avert it,” Boehner said in a statement. “Replacing the president’s sequester will require a plan to cut spending that will put us on the path to a budget that is balanced in 10 years.”
And Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell said Obama proved Tuesday that “more than three months after the November election, President Obama still prefers campaign events to common sense, bipartisan action.”
“Surely the president won’t cut funds to first responders when just last year Washington handed out an estimated $115 billion in payments to individuals who weren’t even eligible to receive them, or at a time when 11 different government agencies are funding 90 different green energy programs,” McConnell said in a statement. “That would be a terrible and entirely unnecessary choice by a president who claims to want bipartisan reform.”
Boehner’s office declined a POLITICO request to speak to the Ohio Republican. Congress is out of session this week as the sequester deadline looms.
Obama and House Republicans have diametrically different policy prescriptions for solving the automatic cuts that take hold March 1. Boehner wants the package to be solely spending cuts; Obama prefers a mix of cuts and new tax revenue from closing loopholes in the tax code.
“We should close loopholes and carve-outs in the tax code, but that revenue should be used to lower rates across the board,” Boehner said in a statement sent out by his office. “Tax reform is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to boost job creation in America. It should not be squandered to enable more Washington spending. Spending is the problem, spending must be the focus.”
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