First run on IR December 15, 2010 -
With so many businesses threatening to leave Illinois due to its outrageous workmen's comp costs, high corporate taxes and trial-attorney-designed tort laws, wouldn't you think Governor Pat Quinn would be doing everything he could to get new businesses in? Then why haven't we heard that Quinn is appealing to his Democrat associates in Congress to get that Keystone XL Pipeline project through Congress?
After all, Phase 1 of TransCanada's planned route ends in Illinois' own Wood River-Patoka refineries. The jobs for Illinoisans would not simply consist of construction jobs, the refineries would become key to midwestern oil distribution. That would be a very good thing and most certainly would boost Illinois' tax revenue and job opportunities.
Governor Quinn's big campaign contributors, labor unions, think the Keystone XL Pipeline is a good thing. TransCananda signed a jobs-rich Project Labor Agreement:
The agreement will provide TransCanada with a capable, well-trained and ready workforce in the U.S. to construct Keystone XL. During construction, the project is expected to create over seven million hours of labor and over 13,000 new jobs for American workers.
The Project Labor Agreement is with the Laborers International Union of North America, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, the United Association of Journeymen and Apprentices of the Plumbing and Pipefitting Industry of the United States and Canada, AFL-CIO, the International Union of Operating Engineers and the Pipeline Contractors Association.
While we're opposed to Project Labor Agreements because it restricts non-union companies from bidding on these jobs, the $7 billion TransCanada project will be privately-funded and it's really up to the private company what other battles they choose to fight. At least no tax dollars will be spent "stimulating" this shovel-ready project.
And almost a year ago, Illinois Republican Congressmen John Shimkus and Don Manzullo signed a letter urging Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to seal the deal with Canada.
"The importance of the Keystone XL pipeline for American energy security and the economy are undeniable," the Congressional members wrote to Clinton. "In a time when we need them most, the Keystone XL pipeline is expected to create 13,000 high-wage American construction jobs and generate millions of dollars in tax revenues for state and local governments. In addition, this pipeline will create thousands of auxiliary jobs by providing American energy security and reducing our dependence on other less stable regions of the world."
We suspect that Governor Quinn's not involved in pushing the Keystone XL Pipeline because his environmentalist friends are opposed to it. However, maybe the Governor doesn't know that three environmental impact studies have shown the pipeline is safe, and even the radical environmentalist group GreenPeace has signed on in approval.
The U.S. House passed legislation this week that would open the door for the Keystone XL Project to bring badly-needed jobs and oil from a friendly neighbor to Illinois refineries. It's time for Governor Quinn to get behind the Keystone XL Pipeline to for once be concerned about the benefit of all Illinoisans over his fair weather, greenie friends.
And while we're at it, why not push on U.S. Senator Dick Durbin to get Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid to pass the Keystone XL Project in the Senate? That's the last major obstacle from Obama's desk.
