Power Politics in Washington and the XL Keystone Pipeline

Weeks of protests by environmentalists and celebrities resulted in a delay of the XL Keystone Pipeline decision beyond the 2012 Presidential election.  Politics appears to have been the main motivating factor to delay the Pipeline.   Although there have been two environmental impact assessments and the Nebraska objections addressed, Obama arbitrarily delayed the decision for yet another environmental assessment. 

The pipeline delay has more to do with the Alberta Oil sands than any danger to the environment the pipeline would cause.  The latest technology and extraordinary safety measures will be used to ensure the safe operation of the line. 

The United States needs the oil whether it comes from the oilsands or elsewhere.  The politics of oil is complicated.  When you compare the reaction to Libya and the subsequent imposition of a "no fly zone" and removal of Gaddafi from power, and the situation in Syria, there is a noticeable contrast to the reaction in either case.   Libya's so called protection of civilians had more to do with securing an important supply of oil for European nations.  While Syria has oil it is not crucial to the overall world supply.  Of course this is a simplistic explanation and there are many other factors, including the location of Syria and its alignment with Iran. 

The oil sands is a safe supply of oil that in the end will serve to bring some energy independence and satisfy national security for the United States.  Environmentalists, who have used the oil sands as a whipping boy for their cause, are in Obama's corner and vital for his re-election next year.  While they would never vote for GOP candidates, they can have a damaging impact if they decide not to vote at all. 

If you assume that politics is the main factor for delaying the decision beyond the 2012 election, then you can easily see that the GOP wants to milk this shovel ready project, pointing to the fact that if the President wanted to create jobs, approving the pipeline is a "no brainer."

In the current payroll tax reduction debate waging in Washington, the Senate has defeated both a Republican and a Democratic bill.  The House is scheduled to vote on a new proposal today, which includes a measure that would require the Administration to reach a decision within 60 days.  Even if it did pass, the Administration says congressional interference could kill the project altogether.   Harry Reid has said that the bill is dead on arrival in the Senate, while Obama has vowed to veto the bill. 

The Associated Press

Date: Tuesday Dec. 13, 2011 6:55 AM ET

WASHINGTON — The Obama administration says a Republican bill to fast-track approval of a Canadian oil pipeline could lead to the project's demise.
In a statement Monday, the State Department warned that congressional interference with TransCanada's Keystone XL pipeline could backfire.
The State Department has authority over the project because it crosses an international border.
The statement said that if Congress imposes an arbitrary deadline for a permit decision, it could prevent the administration from meeting environmental laws that govern the approval process.  CTV

In this political election cycle, politics are trump.  With each side trying to get the upper hand, the debate around the XL Keystone Pipeline is being used for "political football" by either side.  Meanwhile two towns at either end of the pipeline, Hardesty, Alberta and Port Arthur,TX, are being kept in limbo.  Political division is hurting people, while Washington carries on with business as usual.  Will they ever wisen up?

The European Debt Crisis - Lessons for America

While Europeans are scrambling to resolve the European debt crisis and in turn save the Euro, there are some valuable lessons that can be learned.   America has just passed the $15 Trillion debt threshold and a Congressional Super Committee can't get their act together. 

While both sides argue about the right approach and partisan politics is at its worst, the country drops deeper into debt.  Compromise seems to be a dirty word in Washington these days.  Unfortunately the U.S. is in a constant election cycle, making bipartisan politics almost impossible.  If Members of Congress paid attention, there are five valuable lessons that can be learned from the European Debt Crisis:

1. Higher taxes lead to higher spending, not lower deficits.

 2. A value-added tax would be a disaster.

 3. A welfare state cripples the human spirit.

 4. Nations reach a point of no return when the number of people mooching off government exceeds the number of people producing.

 5. Bailouts don’t work.  Cato Institute

A You Tube video by a an Italian student and former intern of the Cato Institute explains what caused the crisis in Europe and how t avoid it in the United States. 

The primary lesson to be gleamed from this video is that the Super Committee and Congress in general must find a way to stop spending.  It is not enough to just kick the can down the road and hope for the best. 

Italy and Greece are good examples of the need for punitive austerity measures if the problem isn't dealt with earlier. 

Below is an example of Business News discussing the European Crisis:

Greece, Ireland and Portugal had to request rescue loans from the European Union after their bond yields jumped above the seven per cent threshold.
But Spain, like Italy, is a much trickier proposition to rescue since its economy is bigger and has more debt.
Italian bond yields also touched the seven per cent level during the session.
“You could say the markets are recording a vote of non-confidence,” said Robert Gorman, chief portfolio strategist at TD Waterhouse.
“They’re very much in a ‘show-me’ state of mind and the Italians and others are going to have to come up with some pretty clear — and clear is the operative word here — statements about exactly what they’re going to do, not just talk about it, with measurable targets and timelines.”  Star.com

This applies equally to Members of Congress and the Obama Administration.  Americans should also be in a "Show Me" state of mind and demand that Washington politicians not just talk about it, but come up with solutions.  Partisan political games are playing with the life of Main Street Americans.  

Alison Redford's First 45 days in Office

Alison Redford was elected by the Progressive Conservative Party of Alberta on October 1st and sworn in as Premier of Alberta the following Friday.  During the first ballot she came a distant third, which required a run-off election.  Gary Marr, who was the winner with 41% of the vote on the first ballot, also came first of three prospective candidates during the run off, gaining around 40% support.  Since none of the three candidates had a clear 50% majority, second choice votes were used to determine the final count.  Redford won fair and square by party rules.  IMHO this should have gone to a third ballot with the third place candidate dropping off.  In all likelihood the results would have been different.

Alison Redford really doesn't have a mandate from the electorate to make some of the the decisions she has made during the past 45 days.  She should present her platform and call a general election.  Let Albertans decide if they want to support that platform.

As soon as she got into office, Redford restored $100 Million to education, without making any adjustments to her budget.  Although she promised to do this within ten days, diligence should have been used to ensure that all other aspects are covered.   It is no surprise that whenever cuts are announced bureaucracies have difficulty in cutting in their own backyard.  Cuts are almost always carried on the backs of teachers.  At the very least the PC government should have conducted a study to see where the education funding is being spend.

Redford's second move was the approval of Bill 50, the portion that approved the Heartland Transmission  Project to the East of Sherwood Park, near Edmonton.  This action was taken despite the fact that a closer examination of the requirement for the transmission lines were needed.

The Alberta Uitilities Commission(AUC) states in its decision that the Alberta Government has taken away the Commission’s legal ability to deal with the costs of the line and whether Bill 50 lines are even needed.  The AUC emphasized in its decision that Cabinet now makes those decisions and Bill 50 prevents the Commission from turning down any Bill 50 line on the grounds that it is not needed or that it is not in the public interest.  

Strathcona County Mayor Linda Osinchuk has been speaking out regarding the transmission line and has send a letter to Premier Redford's government urging that Alberta's energy needs and costs be  reviewed before proceeding with the above  ground line.

Strathcona County's mayor has seized the opportunity to take her concerns on electricity transmission to the energy minister.
Strathcona County Mayor Linda Osinchuk has been speaking out against the Heartland Transmission project since the Alberta Utilities Commission approved the 65-kilometre above ground powerline through Strathcona County.
The line is a 500 kilovolt, double-circuit transmission line that would cover 65 kilometres from south Edmonton to the Heartland region near Fort Saskatchewan.
At a session Thursday with cabinet ministers at the Association of Municipal Districts Convention, Osinchuk renewed her call for the province to review electricity needs and costs in Alberta.
Energy Minister Ted Morton says the new line is needed, not just for the Heartland, but to power the oilsands as well.
This comes one day after Osinchuk delivered letters to MLA's on the county's plans to file an application in court to review the decision by the Alberta Utilities Commission. CTV Edmonton

Redford traveled to Washington, D.C. this week, apparently to tell Alberta's story on the XL Keystone Pipeline.   She also met with business leaders in New York City, before a final stop in Ottawa for a discussion with Prime Minister Stephen Harper.

 Alberta's Premier is taking some heat on the last leg of her tour promoting the province's energy sector.  Thursday, Alison Redford criticized New Democrat M.P.'s who went to Washington, D.C. and openly opposed the Keystone XL pipeline.  Prior to her meeting with the Prime Minister, Redford told reporters that it's not appropriate for Canadian politicians to advise American decision makers and serve as political activists.Redford's words raised the ire of the opposition.  Alberta's only NDP Member of Parliament, Linda Duncan, says she was appalled to hear Redford's statement. Redford met with Stephen Harper Thursday afternoon. Along with a Canadian energy strategy, she discussed immigration policies and pushed for per capita health funding.Redford says the discussion went well but no promises were made.Source CTV

The big news from the national media tonight is that Redford  is calling for a National Energy Strategy.  You can read more about it here.

In her first 45 days in office, Redford has demonstrated that she is of the same ilk as the PC old boys club.  In essence, nothing has changed.  The idea of a provincial sales tax was floated yesterday.  The PC government quickly denied that they were even thinking of the idea.

The Wildrose Alliance, under the leadership of Danielle Smith, released the Redford files on November 21st.  In an e-mail it said:

It has been just over 45 days since Alison Redford became Premier of Alberta, and already her list of flip-flops and fumbles is staggering.

From breaking her campaign promise of introducing fixed election dates, appointing Gary Mar and Rick Orman as senior government officials without holding an open and competitive application process, her “missing in action” approach on fighting for the approval of the Keystone XL pipeline, and most recently, her government talking about a provincial sales tax and reintroducing health care premiums, it is clear that Premier Redford is out of touch with the views of everyday Albertans.

That's why today, we have launched The Redford Files, a website which outlines the Premier’s string of broken promises and missteps.

 The Website The Redford Files chronicles Redford's first 45 days, her flip flops and spending. It also carries a tweet from Linda Duncan, New Democratic Party, stating:

@LindaDuncanMP Linda Duncan

#yegfed # cdnpoli pleased Redford adopting federal NDP platform for public dialogue on sustainable energy future for Canadians

Without a mandate from the general public, Redford and her government should stop making life changing decisions for Albertans.   She should call a general election based on her agenda as soon as possible.