WASHINGTON – Senator Norm Coleman, Chairman of the American Action Network, today released the following statement in response to President Obama’s decision to reject the Keystone XL pipeline:

“The Obama job killing machine has struck again and the president’s politically-motivated decision to reject the Keystone XL pipeline will have major ramifications both domestically and abroad,” said Coleman. “The facts are clear: the pipeline would create thousands of jobs at zero cost to taxpayers, China is cheering rejection of the pipeline so it can gain a foothold in North American energy production, rising Middle East tensions again threaten the stability of the global oil supply and Canadian tar sands will be developed with or without us.

“Not only is this a loss for unemployed Americans and our economy, this represents a big win for foreign competitors who will use the oil under far less stringent environmental guidelines than are in place here. As he has done time and time again, the president chose politics over doing the right thing for Americans desperate for work, and a country that is eager to secure our energy independence from hostile regions of the world.”

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The American Action Network is a 501(c)(4) ‘action tank’ that will create, encourage and promote center-right policies based on the principles of freedom, limited government, American exceptionalism, and strong national security.  The American Action Network’s primary goal is to put our center-right ideas into action by engaging the hearts and minds of the American people and spurring them into active participation in our democracy.