WASHINGTON -- Progressives fighting to stop the construction of TransCanada's Keystone XL pipeline found a new outlet for their message this week with the launch of a national ad campaign pushing President Obama to halt "a crime in progress." Paid for by advocacy group Tar Sands Action, the ad will run in The New York Times and Washington Post print editions, as well as a handful of online publications including Politico and CNN.com.
At issue is whether the president will approve the proposed Keystone XL oil pipeline, which would carry crude oil from the tar sands of Alberta, Canada, to oil refineries along the Texas Gulf Coast. The State Department, which has purview over any infrastructure projects that cross a U.S. border, recently completed a round of public hearings in states along the proposed pipeline route.
But advocates are alleging the review process is tilted in favor of TransCanada, highlighting cozy emails between TransCanada lobbyist Paul Elliot and department officials. (Read more...)
