From the office of Congressman Andy Harris:
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Andy Harris, M.D. voted this evening in favor of H.R. 3 “The Northern Route Approval Act” that would build the Keystone XL pipeline. After 1706 days of waiting for a green light from this administration and over 15,000 pages of review, this bill would remove any remaining obstacles and force President Obama to make a decision on this important energy independence and jobs project.
Last Friday, President Obama visited Ellicott Dredges in Baltimore where he talked a lot about cutting regulations and making it easier for businesses to create jobs. The irony is that the CEO of Ellicott Dredges testified before the House Small Business Committee the day before President Obama’s visit calling for the pipeline’s construction.
President Obama could have done more for Ellicott Dredges and companies all across this country that support the energy and infrastructure sectors by staying in Washington to sign an executive order supporting the Keystone XL pipeline. Instead, he traveled to Baltimore for a photo-op.
“The American people have been waiting long enough for the President and Washington bureaucracy to get out of the way of this bipartisan energy independence and jobs project,” said Congressman Harris.
“The Keystone XL pipeline would create 20,000 jobs right now to build the pipeline and roughly 118,000 long term jobs to support the energy production. This is a no-brainer that must be approved by the President now in order to get Americans back to work and create a more secure energy future.
“President Obama had a unique opportunity last Friday when he visited Ellicott Dredges in Baltimore to throw his support behind this jobs-rich project. Instead, he used the visit to make more empty promises about cutting regulations. Enough is enough. Americans need these jobs. The House voted today to do just that, and the President should urge the Senate to get this jobs bill to his desk as soon as possible.”
Fast Facts:
–20,000 jobs would be created to build the pipeline
–118,000 jobs would be created long term to support the pipeline
–830,000 barrels of oil a day or 1/2 of what the US imports from the Middle East
Let’s see…..Andy Harris votes FOR the Keystone XL Pipeline is newsworthy?
About as much as Andy Harris votes AGAINST “Obamacare” again and again and………
ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ
What would have been your choice, Justin? Did you want him to vote against it? Did you want him to abstain? Do you know what you want other than maybe a radical Lib/Dem to replace him?
A moderate would be nice….. or is that still too liberal for you? What about Wayne Gilcrest?
Harris is a moderate. He only looks conservative from way over there on the left lunatic fringe.
… a typical response from a flat earther, climate change denier, healthcare repealer, small government but massive military supporter, let the Corporate Masters tell us what we need, Keep government out of my wallet but in my pants – supporter like yourself.
Best joke I heard all day. Thanks for that. Hopefully there’s an “Obama is a Socialist Muslim,” punchline coming as well. That would really make my day!
Andy Harris is one of a very few sensible Maryland representatives.
Is it really necessary for Harris to waste staff time (translate: office $$$) polishing his ego and publicizing his support for anything that supports his “business at any cost” philosophy. Better he and his staff use their time helping constituents deal with Social Security, Veterans, and other pro people issues.
Mr. Moderate;
You are giving a bad name to the term moderate. For starters what in the name of all that’s holy is pro people about the social security and VA? Why should an elected official devote one minute toward these meaningless “constituent services.” This nation is leaderless! We don’t need a bunch of feel good crap while the future of this nation as we know it is in jeopardy.
“Feel good crap”, you say. “Meaningless ‘constituent services’ ” you write. Please read the Preamble, written in 1787 to explain why the U.S. was adoption the Constitution:
“We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.”
“Please read the Preamble, written in 1787 to explain why the U.S. was adoption the Constitution:” Mr. Moderate, you have no idea how truly humbled and embarrassed I feel after your thoroughly brilliant response. I had read the preamble many times before and never understood it to require that a Senator or Representative should spend the better part of their term answering questions about the VA or Social Security.
My main problem now, and even more reason for humility, is that I still don’t. Do you interpret the phrases; “…common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity…” to mean that the good Congressman should be totally involved in answering request for assistance? If the VA and Social Security were properly managed, no one would need any help at all. I suppose that the fact that we the people have ceded all responsibility for income, safety, defense, well being, etc to some faceless bureaucrat in DC is ample reason to think that the Congresspeople should forget about being concerned about the little things like an economy that is the proverbial crapper, of that our primary law enforcement office is reading individuals email without the benefit of a warrant, of that ambassadors can be raped and murdered with impunity. To be a moderqate is to be in the middle of the road. The only thing accomplished by being in the middle is that you get mowed down from both directions.
Simple answer for simple minds: Yes
Why should the Legislative branch have to spend time and effort trying to sort out issues caused by the Executive branch, which is managed ultimately by President Obama? Shouldn’t they be required to sort out their own issues? And why are there so darn many issues at Social Security and VA? Did Mr. Obama appoint the wrong management at these agencies? Are they inept?
Actually the Social Security Commissioner is vacant as the Senate has not gotten around to approving the appointment made. The previous Commisioner was appointed by George Bush……Nice try!
CDEV,
I guess that would be the Democratic majority Senate that can’t get around to it? They must not see it as very important. And the SSA commissioner serves at the pleasure of the president who has had how many years to get the right person in place? And if you believe the day to day issues of SSA giving crappy service is the fault of the commissioner you are woefully mis-informed. I do agree that the right commissioner can make a difference over time but if Andy Harris can straighten out SSA as some on here have suggested he spend his time doing then we need several hundred like him. Or is it that the executive branch can be as inept and inefficient as they want but they all get a free pass because Obama is the President?
Well you see…..they would get around to it but it seems that the Republican minority fillubusters everything requiring their participation as well. So no it is the whole Senate’s fault!!!!! Additionally you said Obama picked the wrong man for the job and he didn’t pick anything!
Alex, are you really interested in ignoring the fact that the legislative branch is Constitutionally Mandated to raise taxes and direct spending by legislation? Have you missed the comments about Abrams tank production continuing in Ohio despite the Army not needing them or wanting them? Are you aware the Navy wants to retire Ticonderoga class cruisers but congress will not let them? Exactly who’s problem is it when congress holds and controls the purse strings? That’s your Andy Harris there. Pandering to his conservative appearances and not really addressing anything to benefit the nation or the bottom line of the budget. When will he give up 5% of his salary to show solidarity with the people in DoD on furlough? And this isn’t just your typically maligned government worker…. your pandering for private industry to be involved also means furloughs of contract employees. Express your zealotry a little more Alex. It’s clear the position you support without much thought.
CDEV, The White House came up with the idea of the sequestration and they got it. Frankly, I like it fine. What it has demonstrated to me is that it was all smoke and political posturing. The House called and Obama didn’t have the cards. Game over. Maybe he was distracted by all of the scandals in his administration. Dead State Department employees, IRS being used for political purposes, lying so that AP records could be tapped, Fast and Furious, etc. Yes, Brian Terry is still dead and the the Justice Department is still at fault.
That a lie Alex. It was proposed by the legislature and Obama accepted it as a means to force adult conversation in the Congress. Didn’t happen and he told them he would veto any action to end sequestration. Try again Alex. There must be another conspiracy you can come up with to titillate the dull among us.
Wrong as usual, Because.
Gene Sperling, Jack Lew and Jay Carney have all admitted the idea for the sequester came from the white house.
Yes, B, they certainly have admitted it and they video of them saying it is all over the internet. But CDEV and Because find it inconvenient to face up to the facts. But that is typical of the Dem/Libs. Facts? Facts? Who needs facts? The Dem/Libs only like facts if they say what they want them to say.
Then find where he said he was the one that had the idea. Go for it. Try some main stream media instead of that conspiracy hate stuff you guys enjoy. And Glenn Beck is totally off limits.
How could anybody vote Thumbs Down to the Preamble to the Constitution?
Hate always finds a way.
These are not rational people. These are people that simply prefer to express their hate and derision on anything that addresses common ground. Give it no thought at all. They have existed in this county as far back as when John Wilkes Booth was a child and they have been miserable about the outcome of the Civil War ever since.
Let us thank and say a prayer to all of those souls who have given everything for the freedoms that some give away so easily.
I love the outcome of the Civil War. That was the war that, among other things, got the slaves freed by a Republican president and a Republican led vote in the legislative branch. The Dems weren’t so crazy about it because they lost the right to own slaves.
Yeah, I know. Whatever happened to those moderate Republicans interested in preserving the Union?
Well if you know then why ask? Let’s not forget that it was the Democrats, let me repeat that, it was the DEMOCRATS, who were the slave holders and the REPUBLICANS who freed the slaves. The Dem/Libs are still enslaving people but now it is thru massive handouts which are given in return for the vote.
I think the thumbs down were directed personally at the twisted thought processes of the Andy Harris haters. I now mine were.
Of course Alex, don’t address the preponderance of evidence that suggests he is obstructionist – instead devote your contempt for the people that call him out for his failure to do anything constructive besides be a brick.
I love obstructionists if they are obstructing the Dem/Libs from taxing more and spending more. We need more of them and we desperately need them in Maryland as well.
Well, Because, the suggestion on this post by Arturro Nasney was that Mr. Harris and his office spend more time on helping his constituents navigate the poor service provided by SSA and VA. My question simply was if SSA and VA are providing lousy service then wouldn’t that be the fault of the people who run SSA and VA, agencies which are part of and managed by the Executive branch headed ultimately by Mr. Obama? And wouldn’t that be their mess to clean up? How can we expect a member of Congress, Republican or Democrat, to clean up an executive agency performance issue? Of course they can be a squeaky wheel by throwing a tantrum but is the SSA and VA so poorly managed that it takes a squeaky wheel member of Congress to get service? If you don’t like Harris that is your right but let’s not make him at fault for all of the ills of the executive branch. Next you will hold him responsible for judicial branch rulings that you don’t like as well.
All congressmen and women do that Alex… not just your imaginary hard working Republicans.
And my question, Because, was simply why do either Republicans or Democrats need to do that? Get it? Why are the agencies run so poorly that it takes intervention from a Senator or a Representative of EITHER party? Could we perhaps get the executive branch to run their agencies so that high level intervention isn’t necessary?
Alex;
My assertion was that the idea of wasting the time and talents of staff and congress is unnecessary. You and I agree 100% on the rest of the comments made by you.
I find it interesting that the “Fast Facts,” are all claims that were debunked in 2011.
First, the 20,000 jobs are in reality 6500 jobs (the contractor’s estimate of jobs required for one year of work) being counted twice (based on the assumption that the project will take 2 years). The additional 7000 jobs is an estimate of indirect supply chain jobs (i.e. people manufacturing the tools, supplies, and equipment needed), many of which will be jobs that were created before and regardless of the project, and some of which will be overseas manufacturing jobs.
Second, the 118,000 spin-off jobs are an estimate based on estimates (the highest possible) and are conveniently missing any specifics. Interestingly, the consultant who came up with the estimate used the same methodology/formula on another energy project where the specifics were listed. In that instance his estimate included dentists, dancers (??), and librarians to name just a few.
As for the most misleading figure of them all… The oil exported via the pipeline is Canadian oil that the U.S. would have to purchase from Canada. As it stands Canada is already able to meet our oil demands should we decide to import more from them rather than the Middle East. Additionally, any pipeline oil imported would have to be bought in the same manner as non-Keystone oil, ultimately making it no more beneficial to the U.S. than the oil we already own.
These are the Real Facts. This information has been available since 2011 from multiple sources across the political spectrum and can easily be found via Google. The fact that Harris is attempting to pass off misinformation as truth is not a surprise. It’s what he does best. Why Harris’ district continues to blindly support him regardless of his lack of substance or honesty is what blows my mind.
What seems lost in much of this is that the Legislative Branch MAKES the laws, which are generally lengthy and extraordinarily complex. Career employees (not executive appointees) of the agencies in the Executive Branch attempt to make sense of these in the interest of the citizenry. Members of the House of Representatives, one-half of the law makers, in theory, are to represent the needs of their constituents and assist in making the laws benefit “We the people.” Arturro Nasney seems NOT to believe such “constituent services” are a legitimate function of members of the House. I assume he rejects the belief that “all politics is local.” (Tip O’Neill).
I can accept that “constituent services” is a legitimate function but I personally can’t accept that intervention at an executive agency to get the service which SHOULD have been given to start with is a legitimate function. If the agency can’t or won’t do the job it is required to do then the executive branch needs to fix it and promptly. And the two agencies mentioned have a long track record of being unresponsive and inefficient. If you think that is just Republicans talking then you better read Senator Mikulski’s press releases.
Certainly Alex you can appreciate that malicious, incompetent, vindictive and petty people occur in real life. What makes you think they do not manifest themselves when they are employed in government jobs?
Seriously Alex… An expectation that the emperor acknowledge to his underlings that he has no clothes is certainly a noble objective, but when I tell my deeply Conservative Religious Manager that he does not stand up for his people and he enables petty vindictive and incompetent people to continue to ply their trade of obstruction while being paid by the government, he tells me it will be likes this until I (should be “He”) retires. I’ve dealt with it all my life working within the government and it’s disturbing because we all go there to do a job, and some simply choose to not do their job out of personal spite. So can you imagine why you have to work outside the system, any system, in order to get the change you may want? You’re talking human nature here. And with as much venom as you express opposing someone that simply has a different view from you, will you do the noble thing and assist them when they have a problem that is your responsibility to fix? Or will you be vindictive and petty when the time comes for your personal revenge?
Well, if you are saying that petty, vindictive, malicious and incompetent people (I borrowed those adjectives from you) exist in the executive agencies and further that we as taxpayers should just expect and accept the same then I just won’t do that. And if we as taxpayers should recognize and accept that there are supervisors and managers and directors in those agencies that just ignore it I won’t accept their behavior either. I’m sorry you see it up close and personal every day and have decided you have to accept it. And I’m not criticizing your decision. But I won’t accept it from the people who work for me. And we should all demand better of people who get paid with taxpayer money.
And I don’t accept it – My manager does.
And the fact that your manager is Conservative and Religious is irrelevant. There is nothing in his conservatism or his religious belief that demand acceptance of poorly performing employees. He is an incompetent jerk who should be ashamed to take the pay he receives and I can tell you his religion demands that he deliver an honest day’s work for a day’s pay. If he is using religion as an excuse he is very misguided and probably not really conservative or religious.
On the contrary, as with many Conservatives – since you went there – he is a hypocrite, and when I told him so all he did was come back at me and say “I’m sure you’re a hypocrite too”. Naturally I find this offensive but amusing – because neither of you has any introspection
Because you attack those that are for cutting fraud and waste, have wonderful sayings like “one mans waste is another mans policy”, then tell us how your co-workers don’t do the work they are paid to do, and chalk it up to human nature, the hypocrite shoe fits you well.
Nonsense B. As usual. I complain about the lack of responsibility of those behind the fence but it does me no good because those above me tolerate it. Did I fail to explain that properly or are you just dull and opinionated?
Just pointing out the irony in your complaining how screwed up your little microcosm of the federal system is, yet you support more and larger government for the rest of us at every turn, and use terms like racist and selfish to beat us down when we balk.
You don’t even realize that you are a part of the problem.
Opinionated yes, wouldn’t say dull fits though.
You really have no idea what my values are. You are simply a critic who has nothing in the game at all – except the delight it causes you to see your name attached to a criticism of what others do. You spectate and complain. If all you do is vote, then you are not doing enough. It is not irony that I point out the failures of my part of the federal system. They are part of the greater problem built on the malaise and distrust and subsequent capitulation of people like you who would rather stand outside and whine rather than take an active role in getting change accomplished. You are simply an opinionated coward. Standing up to me does not make you any more brave. Questioning me and disparaging me with your invective does not reduce or diminish my efforts to make things better where I can. Slink back into your hole B.
Good tantrum, but it doesn’t change the fact that you see waste everyday, yet push for more taxes and spending every chance you get. Like I said above, the shoe fits.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/wp/2013/03/03/sperling-republicans-proposed-the-sequester-as-we-know-it/
Now read the article. While the idea of a sequester originated in the White House it included Revenue increases, only after if got to the House did the Revenue increases get removed and replaced with only cuts in spending. The sequester in it’s current form is a Republican Construct
First you said it was a lie and now you are backtracking in the face of the facts. No matter. In its present form I love it no matter who came up with it first (the White House) and who modified it later. Spending cuts abound and revenue increases not so much. And life goes on. And goes on well. Sequester? Sequester is yesterday’s news. Today’s news is another round of Obama screw ups at IRS and Benghazi and the the AP and on and on.
You made your remark out of context – it was a lie. I posted a link for clarification of the truth you did not address. Half truths are still whole lies.
Hey Because and CDEV, if you guys work for an executive branch agency I hope you all got in on some of those great employee “conferences” like they have at the IRS. The inspector general says $50 million and 220 conferences in the past couple of years. And some of the videos are way cool! Were either of you front and center on the conga line? Or maybe it was the electric slide? But it’s just business as usual, isn’t it?
And a damned fine one it is. I was willing to give Barry the benefit of the doubt for hatching a really good idea, Now I come to find out it took Republican modification to bring it to its current useful form.
Pain and suffering must be your calling card Arturo. Thank you for displaying your lack of the finer qualities of humanity.
Thank you for the reasoned and intellectual response. I would not have expected anything else from you. How do you figure pain and suffering? I pride myself on bringing solace to the truly needy.
Somehow it comes across as contempt. Are your glasses rose colored?
Andy, your 15 min of fame are about up, you have done nothing for those who you represent, nothing to help the state of Maryland, you follow the rest of the sheep and do the dance for your masters on the reliable GOP vote. when you look back at your waste of a career as an elected official, what will you see……. that you mindlessly followed the leader and were a waste of space as our representative. you were to blind by the ones who pull your puppet strings to care about the military, the DOD workforce, the companies who develop, test build products to support the troops, the bay and agriculture…
you may leave now…
He does not give a damn about the DoD Workforce. Other than that, you are spot on.