As gasoline prices continue to rise, President Obama on Thursday pushed back on attacks from Republicans that he is blocking the Keystone XL oil pipeline and is against drilling, arguing his administration has added enough new oil-and-gas pipelines to "encircle the Earth and then some."
Obama highlighted his support for the southern leg of the controversial Keystone pipeline, which would carry oil from Cushing, Okla., to refineries on the Gulf Coast.
Appearing before a backdrop of oil pipelines in Cushing, Obama said he was making construction a priority through an executive order issued Thursday that instructs federal agencies to expedite their review of the southern portion of the pipeline.
“Today, I’m directing my administration to cut through the red tape, break through the bureaucratic hurdles and make the project a priority,” said Obama, who earlier this year rejected a GOP bid to force construction on the full pipeline, which would stretch from Alberta, Canada, to the Gulf Coast.
For the full article on Obama's Keystone announcement on The Hill's E2 Wire blog, click here.
