Democrats are finally agreeing on a vote on the Keystone XL pipeline as a "cynical attempt" to save Louisiana Democratic Sen. Mary Landrieu's seat, South Dakota Republican Sen. John Thune said Sunday.
"If the Democrats were serious about this, we would have voted on this years ago," Thune, the chair of the Senate Republican Conference, told Fox News Channel's Chris Wallace on
"Fox News Sunday."
Approval on the pipeline has been on hold for six years, and there have been five environmental impact reviews of the structure, with all coming back and saying it would have a minimal impact on the environment, said Thune.
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In addition, Thune pointed out, North Dakota Sen. John Hoeven introduced the pipeline bill years ago and hasn't been able to get it to come up for a vote.
The pipeline is a "no-brainer in the eyes of the American public," as the State Department says it will support more than 40,000 jobs and 3,000 to 4,000 jobs in South Dakota alone, said Thune.
And while there have been concerns voiced that the oil coming out of Canada's oil fields is not a clean source of energy, the oil will replace that coming from Venezuela, said Thune.
"And remember, Canada is going to produce this oil," said Thune. "It's just a question of whether we're going to benefit from it or the Chinese are going to benefit it."
Also, the pipeline can be used to transport light crude oil coming from North Dakota, taking pressure off the nation's rail systems.
In other matters on the show, Thune also discussed last week's agreement between President Barack Obama and the Chinese government on climate change, and noted that climate change is always occurring, but what Obama agreed to is a bad deal.
"It's all pain and no gain for the American people," he said. "It's one-sided. It's nonbinding...and I guess what I would say to that if you trust the Chinese on something like this, I've got some oceanfront property here in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, for you."
Thune also discussed Obama's plan to take unilateral action on immigration, saying that while many would find the president's plan unconstitutional, he does not agree with people would want to shut the government down to keep from funding the measure.
"This president right now is choosing friction, partisanship and accomplishment — or I should say, in partisanship, instead of cooperation," said Thune. "There's an opportunity for us to get some things done here, and instead, the president is going down this unilateral path, and it's going to make it very hard for us to get anything done on immigration or any other issue for that matter."
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