‘Vulgar Attempt to Politicize Regulatory Agencies’

Washington, D.C. (Oct. 27, 2014) –U.S. Senators Edward Markey and Elizabeth Warren indicated to Massachusetts news media that they intend to pressure federal energy regulatory agencies in order to potentially block the Tennessee Gas Co.’s natural gas pipeline.

Terry O’Sullivan, General President of LIUNA – the Laborers’ International Union of North America – reacted with the following statement.

The Senators’ comments are a vulgar attempt to politicize our nation’s energy regulatory agencies. These agencies should be left alone to do their work based on facts and analysis, not pressure politics.  Their comments are especially disconcerting when too many working people lack affordable fuels, our armed services are in harms-way due in part to our historical lack of energy independence, and at a time of growing concern over climate change – all of which the Tennessee Gas Co. line will do its part to help address.

 

While Senators Markey and Warren are trying to lead our country backward with petty attempts to derail energy development that will heat homes and create good jobs, President Obama recently called for an investment in American energy, including oil and gas development, that will power economic recovery and speed us to energy independence.  The President’s remarks underscore the need for an all-of-the-above approach to energy policy that will position America to be energy independent by 2030.

 

While the Senators say they are looking out for the good of Massachusetts, they seem to be taking their marching orders from environmental extremists. If they are going to talk about what’s good for their state and the nation, they should first take a walk in the real world of their constituents and get back in touch with reality. For LIUNA members and the communities in which they live, safe, state-of-the art pipelines build America’s energy future and are a lifeline to good family-supporting careers.  

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