The Keystone XL Pipeline is one of the most controversial policy issues in the last few years. Hundreds of millions of dollars have been spent on not only physical pipeline building but also on lobbyist movements to either approve or vote down the proposed pipeline. With potentially massive environmental effects looming, the battle between an environmentally conscious president and an opposing Congress has grown into an international dispute.
Legislation for the pipeline was first introduced in 2008 when TransCanada “began construction the Keystone Pipeline after the United States issued a Presidential Permit authorizing the construction, maintenance, of the pipeline along the border of the United States and Canada” (O’Rourke) Despite Canadian …show more content…
As far as those in favor of the pipeline, lobbying efforts have even reached the highest levels of government. The Canadian government has been outspoken in their support for the passage of this legislation. A member from Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s government claims that “"Right now this is not a debate between Canada and the U.S., it's a debate between the President and the American people, who are overwhelmingly supportive of the project," (Panneta) Furthermore, the piping group that is providing most of the actual piping for the Keystone Pipeline, TransCanada, spent almost one million dollars in 2011 alone for lobbying services. TransCanada also hired a former Clinton Administration campaign manager, in an attempt to persuade the State Department, and more importantly Hilary Clinton, who was the Secretary of State during 2011. (Graeber) Environmentalists have also spent large sums of money on lobbying for the pipeline to not be constructed. The most active groups include, Friends of the Earth, The Sierra Club, and National Resources Defense Council. Both sides of the aisle have “given over $230 million to lawmakers last year alone…and that doesn’t include the $154.4 million spent on lobbying.”
Legislation for the pipeline was first introduced in 2008 when TransCanada “began construction the Keystone Pipeline after the United States issued a Presidential Permit authorizing the construction, maintenance, of the pipeline along the border of the United States and Canada” (O’Rourke) Despite Canadian …show more content…
As far as those in favor of the pipeline, lobbying efforts have even reached the highest levels of government. The Canadian government has been outspoken in their support for the passage of this legislation. A member from Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s government claims that “"Right now this is not a debate between Canada and the U.S., it's a debate between the President and the American people, who are overwhelmingly supportive of the project," (Panneta) Furthermore, the piping group that is providing most of the actual piping for the Keystone Pipeline, TransCanada, spent almost one million dollars in 2011 alone for lobbying services. TransCanada also hired a former Clinton Administration campaign manager, in an attempt to persuade the State Department, and more importantly Hilary Clinton, who was the Secretary of State during 2011. (Graeber) Environmentalists have also spent large sums of money on lobbying for the pipeline to not be constructed. The most active groups include, Friends of the Earth, The Sierra Club, and National Resources Defense Council. Both sides of the aisle have “given over $230 million to lawmakers last year alone…and that doesn’t include the $154.4 million spent on lobbying.”