The XL Keystone pipeline, if built, will provide few jobs, but will create much risk. The pipeline is designed to send thick crude oil, derived from Alberta tar sands, all the way across the middle of the United States down to Texas, where it will be refined, and then sent to be sold overseas. The construction of the XL Keystone pipeline will result in a great profits for the oil industry, and tremendous pollution that the rest of us will be forced to deal with. Not only will our skies will become thicker with toxins when the oil is burned, but the pace of climate change will also be increased, as the burning oil sends huge plumes of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Oil pipelines often leak, sending black, viscous sludge into streams and rivers.
In spite of the high risk and low benefit to the American people from the XL Keystone pipeline, the House of Representatives voted in favor of a bill approving the pipeline yesterday, circumventing the normal approval process. The bill was written by Republicans, but it wasn’t just Republicans who voted for this anti-environment legislation.
29 Democrats joined the Republican Party to vote for the pipeline. Their names are:
Brad Ashford, Sanford Bishop, Robert Brady, Cheri Bustos, James Clyburn, Jim Cooper, Jim Costa, Henry Cuellar, Mike Doyle, Gwen Graham, Al Green, Gene Green, Ruben Hinojosa, Sheila Jackson Lee, Dan Lipinski, David Loebsack, Sean Maloney, Patrick Murphy, Richard Nolan, Donald Norcross, Collin Peterson, Cedric Richmond, Kurt Schrader, David Scott, Terri Sewell, Albio Sires, Marc Veasey, Filemon Vela, and Tim Walz.
