Pssst! Wanna build a tar sands pipeline that will "raise gas prices in 15 states [including Wisconsin] while trampling landowner rights and setting up a future oil disaster," according to the National Wildlife Federation?
Senator Ron Johnson's your guy.
Johnson can't wait for Congress to pass something called the Keystone XL Tar Sands Bill, which got the OK of a House subcommittee this week.
Here's how Johnson responds to constituents who ask him to oppose it -- with a partisan attack on the Obama administrtation and a summary of right-wing talking points:
I am an original cosponsor of the Domestic Jobs, Domestic Energy, and Deficit Reduction Act of 2011 which addresses pipeline development. This bill directs the Secretary of State to expedite the permit request for the Keystone XL Pipeline. The pipeline will establish a cost effective delivery system for 5% of American oil needs, strengthen our energy partnership with Canada, create more than 20,000 U.S. jobs, and generate $34 billion in government revenues.
Affordable and reliable energy helps to power our economy and create jobs. We must make sure that these resources are developed in a safe and environmentally sustainable manner. The Keystone Pipeline must meet strong standards that protect public health and the environment.
The United States has vast energy resources at its disposal. Unfortunately, most of these resources are off-limits due to shortsighted policies. Canada, our close ally and northern neighbor, has developed policies that encourage domestic production. Until we develop energy policies that use our own resources, we should work with allies like Canada to help meet our energy needs without compromising national security.
I am concerned that this Administration has no plan to address both the short and long term problem of foreign energy dependence. As gasoline prices continue to rise, I cannot help but think of President Obama's remark in 2008 that under his energy plan "electricity rates would necessarily skyrocket." President Obama's Energy Secretary Steven Chu suggested "Somehow we have to figure out how to boost the price of gasoline to the levels in Europe." I do not share these objectives.
I hope the Administration is seriously rethinking those economically destructive policies. It is critical that the United States develop its own domestic energy resources.
The pipeline builder, TransCanada, was just cited by federal regulators for frequent spills of its existing U.S. tar sands pipeline, Keystone I. TransCanada’s own documents say the proposal would cut oil supply to 15 Midwest states, including Wisconsin. Observers say choking supply would increase gas prices.
Ron Johnson: Nobody's Senator But Theirs.