Keystone XL pipeline lies persist with Rep. Fred Upton's aid (Letter)

Upton, fred uptonU.S. Rep. Fred Upton, R-St. Joseph.

Rep. Fred Upton is still at it. There he was July 16 at the Chamber of Commerce annual meeting claiming the Keystone XL pipeline will create up to 100,000 jobs. It isn't true, Upton must know it, yet he continues repeating the same lies about the project. Even after articles in the Kalamazoo Gazette, several letters in this column and media reports to the contrary Upton sticks to his specious claims. Why?

Here is the truth again. It must be repeated this info is not from some Democratic talking points, anarchist's manifesto nor environmental zealots with vested interests. Straight from the publishings of the pipeline builder (Trans Canada), the main buyer of oil to come through the line (Valero) and the U.S. State Department among others come the facts.

Trans Canada says they will divert oil now coming to Midwest refineries to the Keystone and that doing so will raise gas prices to the U.S. consumer by $4 billion. Valero says they will export the oil for greater profits on the world market, and won't have to pay export taxes since the Texas refineries are in Foreign Trade Zones. The Canadian government says they want the Keystone to get more of their oil to export zones.The State Department study allows for up to 6,000 temporary jobs over two years.

When Upton says the Keystone XL will create 100,000 jobs he isn't telling the truth. When he says it will reduce our dependency on foreign imports, he isn't telling the truth. When he says the Keystone will create tax revenues he isn't telling the truth. When he says it will lower gas prices he really isn't telling the truth. The larger questions here are what else is he not telling the truth about, and why would the Chamber endorse a guy that isn't telling the truth. One would think these business people would have an issue with Upton spending thousands of campaign dollars at businesses outside of Michigan. Are there no Michigan businesses that can provide the campaign services needed?

It is time for Rep. Upton to publicly explain why his claims about the Keystone XL are opposite what the builders and buyers claim, and why he keeps repeating the same lies over and over.


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