Statement on the Obama administration denying a permit for the Keystone XL Pipeline:

"In denying a permit for the pipeline, the President has put personal politics in an election year ahead of what's best for the nation's economy, energy policy and national security. The President has claimed again and again that he favors shovel-ready projects. If ever there was one, this is it. It is clear now that was simply political rhetoric from a President whose mainpriority is his own re-election. The pipeline would create thousands of jobs in several states – many of them in Texas. It would contribute mightily to America's national security and energy independence. Whenoperational, it would represent nearly 10 percent of U.S. petroleum imports and decrease our reliance on oil from the Middle East and countries such as Venezuela that don't like us. This President is playing politics with our national security and unemployed Americans’ lives, and that is unacceptable."

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