Obama Praises Keystone XL Pipeline

That doesn't reach Canada. What a crock.

The White House on Monday hailed the news that a scaled-down portion of the Keystone XL pipeline that would stretch from Oklahoma to Texas will move ahead, but the president’s critics said the move only underscored the need to approve the entire Canada-to-Texas project.

Calgary-based TransCanada, which is building the pipeline, said it could move ahead with the southern leg of the proposed 1,700-mile oil pipeline because it did not cross the U.S. border, thus did not need Mr. Obama’s approval. The shorter pipeline is expected to cost roughly $2.3 billion and create some 4,000 jobs and will be completed next year.

But the move appeared unlikely to quiet the fierce criticism the White House has faced from congressional Republicans and business and labor groups who have lobbied hard for the pipeline.

“We welcome the White House support of TransCanada’s efforts to move this segment forward, but President Obama needs to approve the entire pipeline now,” said Marty Durbin, executive vice president at the American Petroleum Institute. “There’s no better time to get more oil from our friendly neighbor to the north, Canada.”