Keystone Provision Remains as Payroll Tax Cut Passes Congress

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

Crude Oil Pipeline

WASHINGTON - Americans could breathe a sigh of relief after House Republican leaders agreed to a two-month extension of the payroll tax that keeps $40 per payroll check in the pockets of taxpayers.

This figure is based on Americans with annual incomes of $50,000. Congress was facing a deadline of December 31 that would have ended the payroll tax cut.

While there is elation with the announcement for the pocketbooks, concern still abounds over the Keystone XL pipeline provision that remains intact in the legislation.

President Barack Obama two weeks against threatened to veto any legislation that requires him to approve the controversial 1,700 mile Keystone pipeline that is will come down the United States from Canada to Texas.

Yesterday, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Kentucky, issued a news release saying the House Republicans ended its standoff and was excited the Keystone pipeline provision speeds up the Keystone pipeline decision making process.

The Keystone pipeline is opposed by the National Congress of American Indians because of the dangers it poses to water supply on American Indian land as it comes through South Dakota.

Environmental groups are opposed because of the overall dangers it poses to Americans. TransCanada, the owner of the proposed pipeline, has a horrible track record with cutting corners to save money and its numerous spills pertaining to other pipelines it already owns and operates in Canada.

Even with the Keystone provision in the legislation agreed upon last night, President Obama is expected to sign the legislation because it only requires him to speed up a decision on the pipeline’s merits versus requiring him to approve it.

This shift still concerns tribal leaders simply because Keystone is still in the proposal.

The US Senate is expected to pass the legislation approved by the House today to extend the payroll tax cut for two months. However, President Obama wants the tax cut extended for a full year. Congress is putting in place a committee to work out details that would extend it for a full year, according to Congressional leaders.

posted December 23, 2011 9:10 am est