NRCC hammers Democrats on Keystone XL pipeline passage

The National Republican Congressional Committee is targeting House Democrats on the Keystone XL oil pipeline, calling for President Obama to approve the controversial construction project in a new release.

“Nick Rahall (D-W.Va.) and President Obama have run out of excuses,” said NRCC Communications Director Andrea Bozek in the release sent to Rahall's district. “If they are serious about creating jobs, they need to stand up to their radical environmentalist friends and support the Keystone XL pipeline.”

The release went out to the districts of 38 other Democrats, most of whom serve in states that will not be crossed by the pipeline.

Facing opposition from environmental activists, the Obama administration has repeatedly rejected construction of the pipeline, but last week Nebraska Gov. Dave Heineman (R) approved a new path for construction through his state that his office says would avoid harming the environment.

The new path removes a barrier to the pipeline's construction, and a number of Republicans — and some centrist Democrats — are calling for its construction immediately, arguing that it will create jobs and lower energy prices.

House lawmakers have very little say in the decision, but the NRCC seems to believe Democrats face a vulnerability on the pipeline if they can tie Obama's decision to individual lawmakers.

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