Congresswoman Ellmers Accuses President of

Playing Politics with America's Economy and Job Creation

WASHINGTON – Congresswoman Renee Ellmers released the following statement from her office following a press conference in Washington this afternoon:

"I'm here today because I am furious at President Obama's decision to put politics before our economy and job creation. President Obama keeps saying 'we can't wait,' well now is his chance! We Can't Wait until 2013, Mr. President. The Keystone pipeline is poised to create about 20,000 construction, manufacturing, and oil-production jobs in the Midwest, Rockies, and the Gulf Coast, and over 100,000 related jobs. That's tens of thousands of jobs that American workers and their families are relying on through this pipeline. In a time of persistent unemployment, a project that requires zero taxpayer dollars and puts Americans to work is an urgent priority. Mr. President, each day that you postpone the decision is another day that thousands of Americans remain unemployed while awaiting a job to build the pipeline or refine the product it delivers."

This afternoon, Congresswoman Ellmers signed onto a bipartisan letter to President Obama calling on him to act immediately on the Keystone XL pipeline. On Thursday, the Obama Administration announcedthrough the State Department that they would refuse to make a decision on the Keystone XL pipeline until after the 2012 election. The benefits will go well beyond the direct jobs created through building the pipeline, including "7,000 manufacturing jobs associated with the production of materials and components for the pipeline, and over 118,000 spin-off jobs in various sectors related to the design, construction and operation of the pipeline," according to hearings at the Energy and Commerce Committee.

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For more information, please visit Congresswoman Ellmers’ website at www.ellmers.house.gov or call (202) 225-4531.

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