House Republicans Insert Keystone Provision in Payroll-Tax Cut Extension Bill

Levi Rickert, editor-in-chief in Native Challenges. Discussion »

Crude Oil Pipeline

WASHINGTON - Ignoring President Obama's threat to veto a payroll-tax cut extension with the Keystone XL pipeline tied to it, House Republicans on Friday evening released a 369 page bill titled the "Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2011."

The first portion of the bill contains language that would direct President Obama to grant a permit for the pipeline within 60 days.

The Keystone XL Project is a 1700 mile long crude oil pipeline that would transport between 700,000 to 900,000 barrels of crude oil per day. The 1700 mile long pipeline will extend from Alberta, Canada and pass through the states of Montana, Nebraska, South Dakota, Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas on its way to the Gulf of Mexico.

American Indians and environmentalists oppose the pipeline.

The proposed pipeline coming down through the Plains states has caused great concern, particularly among the Oglala in South Dakota. TransCanada's proposed pipeline route is right though the Pine Ridge and Rosebud reservations. It will cross the Oglala Sioux Rural Water Supply System in two places.

Last month, President Obama announced he would delay a final decision on the controversial Keystone XL pipeline until after the 2012 presidential election.

Unhappy with the his announcement to delay the final decision, Congressional Republicans are attempting to attach Keystone to the payroll tax-cut extension.

“Any efforts to try to tie Keystone to the payroll-tax cut, I will reject,”

President Obama said on Wednesday.

The House is expected to vote on the bill on Tuesday.

posted December 10, 2011 6:10 am est