Secretary of State Favorite Has Major Stake in Canadian Tar Sands

[midnight]

Posted on Nov 30, 2012

AP/Evan Vucci
U.N. Ambassador Susan Rice leaves a meeting on Capitol Hill on Wednesday.

It turns out that Susan Rice, President Obama’s apparent favorite for the next secretary of state, has financial investments in more than a dozen Canadian oil companies and banks that stand to profit from the growth of the North American tar sands industry and the operation of the proposed multibillion-dollar Keystone XL pipeline.

If Rice gets the job, Scott Dodd at OnEarth writes, one of her “first duties likely would be consideration, and potentially approval, of the controversial mega-project.”

Rice’s investments should raise concerns about her ability to oversee the permission of the project uninfluenced by personal financial interest. She holds between $300,000 and $600,000 worth of stock in TransCanada, the company vying for the permit to transport the crude from Canada to the Texas coast.

Roughly one-third of Rice’s personal net worth sits in “oil producers, pipeline operators, and related energy industries north of the 49th parallel—including companies with poor environmental and safety records on both U.S. and Canadian soil.” With her husband, she owns $1.25 million worth of stock in leading Canadian oil producers, and smaller stakes in several other Canadian energy companies.

http://www.truthdig.com/eartotheground/item/secretary_of_state_candidate_has_major_stake_in_canadian_tar_sands_20121130/

[tama]

1. Kerry is even bigger investor

See also:

Hoeven, Baucus Lead Senators in Calling for Keystone XL Meeting with President
Senators: The Election is Over, it's Time to Move forward with Keystone XL Jobs

WASHINGTON, D.C. – North Dakota Senator John Hoeven and Montana’s senior U.S. Senator Max Baucus led a bipartisan group of 18 senators today in calling for a meeting with President Obama to urge action on the Keystone XL Pipeline project.

“The election is over, people want us to work together to create jobs, and one sure way we can create jobs right now is by moving forward with construction on the Keystone XL Pipeline,” Baucus said. “We’ve spent more than four years producing studies and addressing environmental and property concerns – there’s no excuse to keep Keystone jobs on hold any longer.”

“The Keystone XL pipeline represents not only thousands of jobs and growth for the nation’s economy, but also a big step toward American energy independence,” Hoeven said. “We can become energy independent in America within five to seven years, but we must commit to moving forward with important projects like the Keystone XL pipeline.”

Earlier this week, the International Energy Agency predicted the United States is on track to surpass Saudi Arabia as the world’s largest oil producer in about five years and will become self-sufficient in energy production by 2035. The Keystone XL Pipeline would carry Montana and North Dakota oil from the Bakken and other oil-bearing formations.

The following Senators joined Baucus and Hoeven’s letter: Richard Lugar (R-Ind.), Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), Kent Conrad (D-N.D.), Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Texas), Mary Landrieu (D-LA), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Mark Pryor (D-Ark.), David Vitter (R-La.), Jim Webb (D-VA), Jon Tester (D-Mont.), John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Mike Johanns (R-Neb.), Kay Hagan (D-N.C.), Mark Begich (D-Alaska), Joe Manchin (D-W.V.), Rob Portman (R-Ohio).

Complete text of the letter follows below.

November 16, 2012

The Honorable Barack Obama
President of the United States
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW
Washington, District of Columbia 20500-0003
Dear Mr. President:

With the elections of 2012 behind us, we write to remind you of the continuing importance of the Keystone XL Pipeline. We want to work together to keep creating jobs, and Keystone XL is one vital piece of the puzzle. We would like to meet with you in the near future to discuss this important project.

Setting politics aside: Nothing has changed about the thousands of jobs that Keystone XL will create. Nothing has changed about the energy security to be gained through an important addition to the existing pipeline network built with sound environmental stewardship and the best modern technology. Nothing has changed about the security to be gained from using more fuel produced at home and by a close and stable ally. And nothing has changed about the need for America to remain a place where businesses can still build things.

We hope that you will follow through on your directive of March 22, 2012, to federal agencies to move forward vital energy infrastructure like Keystone XL. The state of Nebraska is nearing completion of the new pipeline route within Nebraska. With that process near completion, we look forward to an affirmative determination of national interest soon.

We then urge you to issue a Presidential Permit immediately afterward.

Thank you for your consideration, and we look forward to your response.

Sincerely,

Max Baucus (D-Mont.)
John Hoeven (R-N.D.)
Richard Lugar (R-Ind.)
Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.)
Kent Conrad (D-N.D.)
Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Texas)
Mary Landrieu (D-LA)
Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska)
Mark Pryor (D-Ark.)
David Vitter (R-La.)
Jim Webb (D-VA)
Jon Tester (D-Mont.)
John Barrasso (R-Wyo.)
Mike Johanns (R-Neb.)
Kay Hagan (D-N.C.)
Mark Begich (D-Alaska)
Joe Manchin (D-W.V.)
Rob Portman (R-Ohio)

http://www.hoeven.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-releases?ID=a9a3bd9e-68b4-4dd5-ad08-fbc91d2f5656

How's the portfolio of those senators and how much campaign funds etc. bribes from fossile industry?

[midnight]

4. This letter is very revealing, but for clarity, all those who signed this letter should

have to show what their financial gain is in this matter....

[dipsydoodle]

2. Reminds me

of when the Dulles brother's were involved with United Fruit the consequence of which was US involvement in the affairs of Guatemala.

There should be no vested interests whatsoever.

[midnight]

3. Russ Feingold seems to be a better candidate in light of this conflict....

[John2]

5. Well,

Last edited Sat Dec 1, 2012, 12:39 PM - Edit history (1)

even though they claim Politics shouldn't be interjected, I think the President should use Politics as leverage. I notice with the exception of maybe Virginia and Ohio, all the politicians come from these Red States. Including a certain Mitch McConnell. I definitely would interject Politics if it gained me a Quid Pro. So how about getting movement on that Fiscal Cliff, because that is also just as important!

I spoke too soon. I disagree with this project period, because of environmental concerns. I think the U.S. needs to look for alternative resources after learning about the issues more!

[midnight]

6. The evidence is pretty stunning... Some say that within two hours tracking starts destroying

forests....