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Casey Votes for Keystone XL Pipeline

It’s official: we’ve entered the stage of the campaign where Bob Casey can’t do anything right. The Senator voted with the GOP in favor of a bill to advance the Keystone XL oil pipeline Thursday night, and his opponents accused the him of switching positions.

Keystone XL has become a heated political issue, which Republicans have tied to the recent rise in gas prices (see the image below, produced by the Pa. Republican Party). Republicans say the pipeline – which would connect the oil sands in Canada to American refineries along the gulf – is important for energy independence. Democrats, including President Obama, say the jury is still out on possible environmental impacts.

The vote in the Senate ultimately failed on a 56-42 vote (falling short of the 60 vote threshold). 11 Democrats joined the GOP in supporting the measure.

“Casey’s vote on the Keystone XL pipeline is just an election-year trick to fool Pennsylvanian voters into thinking he is someone he’s not,” said Steve Welch, a GOP Senate hopeful and entrepreneur from Chester County.

“Today we witnessed a rare example of Senator Casey parting with his 98% support of President Obama’s anti-growth agenda in an election year,” agreed Tom Smith, an Armstrong County native who owned and operated a mid-sized coal company. The U.S. Senate candidate said Casey failed to lead on the issue.

Casey is certainly not deaf to the politics of gasoline. This week, he vocally backed legislation designed to crack down on OPEC. The bill would close a loophole that prevents the Department of Justice from bringing suit against OPEC for price fixing.

“The United States cannot sit idly by while other nations conspire to raise the price of our gas,” said Casey. “This bill will give us essential tools to crack down on price fixing, and I will continue to fight for every possible strategy to keep gas prices in check.”

Welch is quick to call politics, noting Casey’s vote earlier Thursday against an amendment by Sen. David Vitter (R-LA) to open up more areas to off-shore drilling.

“If you want to increase the production and supply of American energy, then you are not only for the pipeline, but you are for off shore drilling too,” said Welch campaign manager Peter Towey.

But interestingly, Welch’s press release also cites a study by the Joint Economic Committee, which Casey chairs, from back in May:

“The report finds, therefore, that increases in U.S. oil production are unlikely to lead to lower crude oil prices or gasoline prices,” the report says, quoted in the Welch statement.

The report concludes that much of the increase in gas prices correlated with increased profits for oil companies, and that eliminating their tax breaks would have a net positive impact on the public.

Which is exactly the point Democrats are trying to make in the gas debate: Republicans are kowtowing to big oil.

“By standing up for oil companies’ tax breaks, Steve Welch is trying way too hard to fit in with his new Tea Party friends,” said Mark Nicastre, spokesman for the Pa. Democratic Party. “Pennsylvanians want a Senator like Bob Casey who isn’t afraid to work across the aisle to do what is best for Pennsylvania.”

6 Responses

  1. That’s nice. Wait until it’s election year to try and disassociate yourself from the Obama administration and pull this “moderate” act. I’ll bet Sen. Casey thinks he’s real slick.

  2. The Wyden Amendment makes sense. If we are risking an oil spill on our homeland the next 30 years from the Keystone pipeline, then we should insist that all the oil it transports stays here. And that the pipeline be built and maintained by American workers — with American made materials.
    Otherwise, we would be relegating our land to a 30 year stepping stone for Canada to transport its dirty oil to foreign markets.
    Indeed, the Wyden Amendment should be used as a model for all offshore and public land drilling. If our country incurs the long term risk of an oil spill, then it should also get the maximum benefit.
    The “free market” will have to take a back seat on this one.
    Our environment ain’t free — even to the free market.

  3. The Tea Party is for low taxes and limited government on everyone. Not just those who fit whatever mold the government believes is politically expedient.

    Furthermore, if taxes are raised on the oil companies, guess who is going to pay for it. We are because they will pass through the additional costs to their customers.

    It is an old trick of government to tax and regulate a business or an industry and then demonize them because they have to charge their customers more. The government gets more control and more revenue and a new boogeyman in the process.

  4. If only Bobby Jr. respected the electorate the first 5 (non-election) years of his term.

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