With all the talk of “unity” in bringing Americans together, President Joe Biden sure didn’t have a problem killing tens of thousands of American and Canadian jobs with the stroke of the pen. There was no conversation, no debate, just unemployment. At least somebody on the left seems to have a shred of sense.
Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) sent a letter to Biden on Tuesday to “encourage” the president to “reconsider [his] decision to revoke the cross-border permit for the Keystone XL pipeline.”
“Pipelines continue to be the safest mode to transport our oil and natural gas resources and they support thousands of high-paying, American union jobs,” Manchin wrote. “To that end, I encourage you to reconsider your decision to revoke the cross-border permit for the Keystone XL pipeline and take into account the potential impacts of any further action to safety, jobs, and energy security.”
Manchin concluded his letter by writing that Biden shouldn’t “let politics drive” his decision on this matter.
“Pipeline infrastructure projects already undergo a rigorous permitting process that allows experts to weigh-in on the security, safety, and environmental impacts of the project,” Manchin said. “I encourage you to let these processes proceed as intended and to not let politics drive the decisions on the development and operation of our nation’s vital energy infrastructure.”
NEW: @Sen_JoeManchin sends letter to @POTUS asking him to reconsider decision on Keystone XL.
— Cara Korte (@CaraKorte) February 9, 2021
"I encourage you to let these processes proceed as intended and to not let politics drive the decisions on the development and operation of our nation’s vital energy infrastructure." pic.twitter.com/XgbyfojWod
Biden signed an executive order — one of many — on the first day on his administration terminating the permit to continue work on the pipeline.
The president almost immediately received pushback, with Alberta, Canada Premier Jason Kenney speaking in no uncertain terms last month that the move was “an insult directed at the United States’ most important ally and trading partner on day one of a new administration.”
Who knows if whoever is reading Biden’s mail will deliver Manchin’s letter to the president? But it most likely won’t make a difference to an administration that had its agenda set before ever taking office.
H/T: Reuters