Republicans tie unemployment benefits extension to Keystone pipeline approval

[marmar]

By MARY ANN MILBOURN / THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER


A proposal to continue the current 99 weeks of unemployment benefits may ultimately hinge on approval of a Canadian-U.S. oil pipeline project.

House Democrats and Republicans appeared to be narrowing their differences over both a continued reduction in the Social Security payroll tax contribution and the extension of long-term unemployment benefits.

But a bigger potential hurdle looms. House Republicans have added to the bill approval of the Keystone XL oil pipeline from the oil sands of Canada to U.S. Gulf Coast refineries.

The pipeline got sidetracked earlier this year when Nebraska opposed it due to its route through the state's environmentally-sensitive Sandhills area. In November, the Obama Administration put the project on hold saying it wanted to review alternative routes. The review will delay the project until after next year's election. ............(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.ocregister.com/articles/pipeline-330595-oil-project.html

[ProfessionalLeftist]

1. Again with holding the vulnerable hostage to their demands?

After all, it worked so well last time! The President needs to find some way to deal with these thugs.

(Edit: and no I don't have any ideas but one would think there would be some way to shut them down)

[catbyte]

2. Evil bastards

[DocMac]

3. They believe this is compromise:

We will allow you to extend benefits so that people can eat and pay bills. In return, we want that pipeline in order to make our masters more wealth.

And be quick about it before we change our minds.

[sakabatou]

4. Motherfuckers!

:grr:

[PDJane]

5. BC's First Nations peoples

have something to say about that.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/story/2011/12/01/bc-first-nations-block-oil-exports.html
http://www.care2.com/causes/bc-first-nations-unite-to-ban-export-of-tar-sands-oil.html

Please remember that most of BC is unceded First Nations land.

[Highway61]

6. This shit has to stop!

I we this they would be throwing us into the prison for blackmail or extortion.

[Hotler]

7. FUCKERS! n/t

[Ruby the Liberal]

8. Actually, it isn't even THAT generous.

The actual proposal cuts emergency UI benefits to 59 tiered weeks from 99.

Edit to add link: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x2453697

[MisterP]

9. that was quick