Paul Ryan Forces Keystone Approval: Stands with Saudi Arabia Instead of American Landowners

Rep. Paul Ryan unveiled his budget, which forces approval of the Keystone XL pipeline by ignoring the basic fact that this is an export pipeline, headed to a refinery owned by Saudi Arabia, that will create only 35 permanent jobs.

"On the one hand we want to send Rep. Ryan a big box of tarsands-free steaks from Nebraska thanking him since these types of politically-motivated moves helped get the pipeline denied last time around," said Jane Kleeb, Bold Nebraska Director. "On the other hand, we are deeply concerned Ryan is citing false job numbers from the oil industry that have even been refuted by TransCanada."

The State Department review that finds the pipeline will create 35 permanent jobs, and job figures from TransCanada's Keystone 1 line that fell far below the oil industry’s claims, rely on fact rather than Paul Ryan fiction.

If Paul Ryan forces approval of the export pipeline, here is what never gets reviewed: 

-the Ponca Trail of Tears which the Nebraska re-route now crosses

-economic impact of spills and construction on landowners

-risks of water with a worst-case scenario spill 

-fundamental issues of property rights of a foreign corporation using eminent domain for private gain

"If Paul Ryan wants to be a shill for the Saudi Arabia refinery that would get these tarsands and take away property rights, then by all means stay the course," said Jim Tarnick, landowner on the proposed route. "If Paul Ryan wants to stand with American landowners and renew his belief in American energy than we have a speaking spot for him at our next rally."

Background on Job Numbers

• Politifact called the job numbers, that Ryan is now using, "false."
• Washington Post gave the job numbers "two Pinocchios."
• Media Matters broke down how Fox News, Members of Congress (R/D-Big Oil) and other industry allies keep inflating the numbers every time they open their mouth.
• Cornell University tore the job numbers apart back in 2011.
• Council on Foreign Relations called the job numbers "dead wrong."

• University of Nebraska asks key questions in a paper they issued on the economic and job numbers.