Supporters of the controversial Keystone XL pipeline are now billing it as a top political issue for Hispanic voters — the latest bid to spur the administration’s approval of the project.
On Tuesday, the American Petroleum Institute joined with the Hispanic Leadership Fund to call for President Barack Obama to issue a cross-border permit allowing construction of the pipeline that would connect oil sands projects in Alberta, Canada with refineries along the Gulf Coast.
“At a time like now where our country is hurting economically… this is something that is important to our members from a jobs perspective,” said Mario Lopez, president of the Hispanic Leadership Fund. “Even in the states where the pipeline doesn’t pass through, a number of studies have shown the number of jobs that would be created are significant.”
“Latinos have been especially hurt by the economic downturn,” Lopez added, noting that the unemployment rate among Hispanics is hovering about 1 to 2 points higher than the national average.
Marty Durbin, API’s executive vice president, added that the project would put thousands of skilled workers to work almost immediately. READ MORE
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