Labor union: Democrats have ‘perverted’ Keystone process

The president of a top building trades union is accusing Democrats of “perverting” the process for considering the Keystone pipeline.

Just before a vote in which the House is expected to approve the pipeline,Terry O’Sullivan, president of the Laborers’ International Union of North America (LIUNA), charged that President Obama and Democrats are out of line with not approving Keystone.

Obama is expected to veto the House legislation, and to argue that the House action is circumventing the proper process for the pipeline’s consideration. But O’Sullivan faulted the president’s logic.

{mosads}”To back up his expected veto, the president has correctly stated that there is ‘a well-established process in place’ to consider approval of major infrastructure projects such as the Keystone XL pipeline,” O’Sullivan said. “What he didn’t say is that he and too many job-killing Democrats have perverted that process.”

Obama has repeatedly urged Congress not to circumvent the process, and to let the State Department continue its review of the project.

Keystone has put Obama at odds with a normally supportive labor movement, which have backed the pipeline.

LIUNA argues Keystone would create a surge of jobs for the construction industry.  

It isn’t the first time LIUNA has expressed dismay with Democrats. The union also threatened to oppose lawmakers up for reelection last year over the measure.