Sierra Club: “Cantor Votes to Give Asia and Europe First Dibs on Keystone XL Oil”

The following press release, from the Sierra Club, nails Eric Can’tor for voting to “threaten the safety of America’s water and the health of American families to help a Canadian company export oil.” So how is this in the interest of the United States exactly? Of course, Eric Can’tor’s the same guy who’s been talking down the U.S. economy the past three years, blocking important measures to help create jobs, and even play a dangerous game of chicken – for purely political reasons – with the credit rating of our country. In addition, Eric Cant’or heads up a party that receives millions of dollars from the oil industry, so it’s no big surprise that he’d do their bidding. To get a feel for how truly awful Canadian tar sands are, check out the video from the National Wildlife Federation. It’s truly appalling, almost as appalling as Eric Can’tor’s utter lack of concern for our planet.

Cantor Votes to Give Asia and Europe First Dibs on Keystone XL Oil

Washington, D.C. – Late last night, Congressman Eric Cantor (VA-07) voted against a provision that would ensure any oil pumped through the Keystone XL pipeline would remain in the United States for American consumers.

The proposed Keystone XL pipeline would move highly toxic tar sands crude from Canada 1,700 miles over six states to ports in Texas. The pipeline’s route passes through the Ogallala Aquifer, which provides water for drinking and irrigation to millions of American families. TransCanada, the oil company behind Keystone XL, has already dumped tens of thousands of gallons of toxic crude onto American soil. The company’s existing Keystone 1 pipeline had 14 spills in its first 12 months of operation.

Last month, President Obama concluded Keystone XL was not in our national interest. Cantor, however, is leading a charge in Congress to override that decision and permit one specific, risky oil industry pet project – a project whose primary goal, energy analysts note, is reaching foreign oil markets. Wednesday night Cantor voted against an amendment to pending House Transportation Legislation that would have kept oil pumped by Keystone XL in the United States.

Kate Colarulli, Sierra Club Beyond Oil Associate Campaign Director, released the following response:

“It’s plain and simple: Eric Cantor voted to threaten the safety of America’s water and the health of American families to help a Canadian company export oil. The Keystone XL pipeline doesn’t bring oil to America, it brings oil through America. Cantor is using his seat in Congress to reward his big oil campaign donors with a pipeline that sacrifices clean drinking water and threatens American farmers, ranchers and families.”