Area"s two congressmen differ on Keystone pipeline

President Obama rejects Keystone Pipeline
THOUSAND PALMS, Calif. -

While U.S. Rep. Paul Cook (R-Apple Valley) called President Barack Obama"s decision to reject an application to build the Keystone XL pipeline a "slap in the face of Americans," U.S.Rep. Raul Ruiz (D-Palm Springs) applauded the move.

"I voted against the pipeline," Rep. Ruiz told CBS Local 2"s Kris Long Friday evening during a live Newsmaker segment.

Cook represents the High Desert communities of Joshua Tree, Yucca Valley, and Twentynine Palms, as well as areas north including Yucaipa, Apple Valley and Barstow. Ruiz represents the Coachella Valley, south to the Salton Sea and east to Blythe.

Both congressman said jobs were a key component of the controversial project, which would have run from Canada to Texas.

Cook"s response virtually echoed that of the new Speaker of the House, Rep. Paul Ryan, who said, "By rejecting this pipeline, the president is rejecting tens of thousands of good-paying jobs."

"Until today, the president was the only obstacle standing in the way of building the Keystone XL pipeline and putting Americans back to work," said Cook. "Blocking the creation of this pipeline is a slap in the face to Americans looking for work. This is about jobs, jobs, and more jobs."

But Ruiz countered that "more jobs can be created building our water storage and transportation infrastructure."

The decision is a clear victory for environmental activists who strongly opposed the pipeline. But it also places the president and fellow Democrats in direct confrontation with Republicans and energy advocates heading into the 2016 presidential election.

"The sad truth is that today, hardworking people lost and wealthy environmental extremists won," said Cook.

However, Ruiz said "The Keystone pipeline was a giveaway to a big Canadian oil company allowing them to transport their oil for their profits on our land without any responsibility or enough accountability against an oil spill."

Source: http://www.kesq.com/news/areas-two-congressmen-differ-on-keystone-pipeline/36311204