Research Briefing

With The GOP House Pushing Middle Class Tax Relief And Job Creation, Obama Makes His Priorites Clear

OBAMA IS PUTTING HIS JOB AHEAD OF 20,000 JOBS THAT WILL BE CREATED BY THE KEYSTONE PIPELINE

Obama Delayed The Keystone Pipeline In Order To Appease His Liberal Base

Obama Put The Pipeline Decision Off Until After The Election To Avoid “Further Alienation” Of Key Voter Blocks. “The administration had in recent days been exploring ways to put off the decision until after the presidential election, fearing further alienation of environmental and health advocates who consider the pipeline decision a test of the Obama administration’s commitment to clean energy and air quality.” (John M. Broder and Dan Frosch, “U.S.  Delays Decision On Pipeline Until After Election,” The New York Times, 11/10/11)

Obama Delayed Making A Decision On The Keystone XL Pipeline Until 2013. “The Obama administration on Thursday said it was delaying a decision on the contested Keystone XL pipeline while it studies an alternate route through Nebraska, effectively pushing any action well past the 2012 election and into 2013.”(John M. Broder and Dan Frosch, “U.S.  Delays Decision On Pipeline Until After Election,” The New York Times, 11/10/11)

• The Pipeline Put Obama In A “Political Vise.” “The proposed project by a Canadian pipeline company had put President Obama in a political vise, squeezed between the demand for secure energy sources and the thousands of jobs the project will bring, and the loud opposition of environmental advocates who have threatened to withhold electoral support next year if he approves it.” (John M. Broder and Dan Frosch, “U.S.  Delays Decision On Pipeline Until After Election,” The New York Times, 11/10/11)

Environmental Groups Are “United In Opposition” And Obama’s Approval Of The Pipeline Will Discourage The “Environmental Base.”  “But major environmental groups have united in opposition to the project and say approval could discourage mobilization of President Obama's environmental base in the 2012 election. Some activists are casting it as a referendum on Obama’s commitment to fighting global warming.”  (Ben German, “Several Democrats Attack State Dept. Pipeline Finding,” The Hill’s “E2 Wire,” 8/27/11)

• “‘It Will Be Increasingly Difficult To Mobilize The Environmental Base And In Particular To Mobilize Young People’ If Obama Approves The Pipeline, Sierra Club Executive Director Michael Brune Said Thursday.” (Andrew Restuccia, “Greens:  Approval Of Oil Pipeline Could Hurt Obama In 2012,” The Hill’s “E2 Wire,” 8/25/11)

Obama’s Veto Threat Places 20,000 Jobs At Risk

Obama Has Threatened To Veto A Payroll Tax Cut Extension If It Forces Him To Reach A Decision On the Keystone Pipeline Before Election Day. “President Barack Obama twice in two days has threatened to ‘reject’ a plan extending payroll tax cuts and unemployment insurance if it includes Republican language to speed up a decision on the Keystone pipeline.” (Darren Goode, “Dems’ Keystone-Payroll Tax Dilemma,” Politico, 12/8/11)

The Keystone Pipeline Will Create 20,000 Jobs. “TransCanada’s initial estimate of 20,000 - which it said includes 13,000 direct construction jobs and 7,000 jobs among supply manufacturers - has been widely quoted by lawmakers and presidential candidates.” (Juliet Eilperin and Steven Mufson, “Keystone Pipeline Battle Heating Up,” The Washington Post, 11/6/11)

• Four Labor Unions Reached A Tentative Agreement To Build The Pipeline Because They Say It Will Directly Create As Many As 20,000 High Wage Jobs For Their Members. “In September 2010, four unions - the United Association of Journeymen and Apprentices of the Plumbing and Pipefitting Industry of the United States and Canada; the Laborers International Union of North America; the Teamsters; and the International Union of Operating Engineers - reached a tentative project labor agreement with TransCanada to build the pipeline, which is now finalized. They say the project will directly generate as many as 20,000 high-wage jobs for their members.” (Juliet Eilperin and Steven Mufson, “A Pipeline Predicament For Obama,” The Washington Post, 10/17/11)

Rep. Mike Ross (D-AR): Obama’s Veto Would Be “A Mistake On The President’s Part” Because It’s “The Kind Of Economic Activity We Need. It’s A Win-Win.” “Rep. Mike Ross of Arkansas — one of 47 Democrats that supported a House bill this summer to require a decision on the pipeline project by Nov. 1 — counted more than 20 Democrats who would likely support adding the Keystone language to the payroll tax package. And he said he disagreed with Obama's threat. ‘Look, I think that'd be a mistake on the president's part,’ Ross said. ‘That's the kind of economic activity we need. It's a win-win. It reduces our dependence on foreign oil and creates jobs here at home.’” (Darren Goode, “Dems’ Keystone-Payroll Tax Dilemma,” Politico, 12/8/11)

OBAMA’S VETO WOULD MEAN 160 MILLION FAMILIES WOULD SEE AN AVERAGE TAX HIKE OF $1,000 NEXT YEAR

Just Ask Obama…

Obama: If Congress Does Not Extend The Payroll Tax Cut, The Average American Family “Will See A Tax Hike Of About $1,000 A Year.” OBAMA: “A year ago at this time, both parties came together to cut payroll taxes for the typical American family by about $1,000. But as soon as this year ends, so does that tax cut. If Congress fails to renew this tax cut before then, that same family will see a tax hike of about $1,000 a year.” (President Barack Obama, Remarks On Payroll Tax Cuts And Unemployment Insurance, Washington, DC, 12/5/11)

Obama Says His Number One Priority Is “Making Sure That Nearly 160 Million Hard-Working Americans Don't See An Increase In Their Taxes On January 1st.”  OBAMA: “My number-one priority right now is doing everything that I can, every single day, to create jobs faster and to provide more security for middle class families and those trying to get into the middle class. And at this moment, that means making sure that nearly 160 million hard-working Americans don't see an increase in their taxes on January 1st.” (President Barack Obama, Remarks On Payroll Tax Cuts And Unemployment Insurance, Washington, DC, 12/5/11)