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Chris Stirewalt and Charlie Hurt discuss the transportation bill and the Keystone controversy with Congressman Peter Welch.
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Keystone -- -- Program that we are not going I'm not going to.
Help in any way I can.
The president feels that way I -- to.
That was senate majority leader Harry Reid trying reporters yesterday.
Throwing down the gauntlet saying that he was not -- -- succumbing to -- House Republicans passed plan.
On transportation bill that tries to force the administration to Green light and massive pipeline that would go from western candidate and -- the Gulf of Mexico to US refineries that air.
And this power -- welcome back what metro -- from The Washington Times.
And -- -- good to be with us today.
Also good to be with us is congressman Peter Welch who represented the entirety the whole state.
-- Vermont.
Congressman how we doing today -- -- great.
And is so.
What's going to happen this Republican bill that made it out of the house.
Is crucial this war a lot of districts in the country.
In terms of keeping up their roads keeping up the transportation system continuing existing projects it's headed into conference.
The majority leader sounded very tough.
On this provision about the Keystone Pipeline what's gonna happen.
Well I hope that the end of the day we're gonna pass a transportation bill and that's a million jobs.
-- keystone is very controversial it's a big political issue there's parents both sides you can argue the bottom line should be attached and hold hostage.
The transportation bill it's about roads bridges about infrastructure and is vital.
To the creation of a million jobs and do the rehabilitation of our infrastructure costs across the country.
So whatever your position is on keystone we can debate that but let's not use that basically to hold hostage the creation of a million jobs in this country.
-- has passed a transportation bill.
Now we need all all of that maybe true but the pressure seems to be -- -- seem to be a growing number of Democrats.
There's a considerable public sport.
For the keystone project and there are more Democrats than there voicing some support for it.
Is there a chance do you think that -- -- and Democrats in the senate -- onboard with this idea.
-- out of the way.
Well it's -- course there's a chance that you know we just heard senator Reid the majority leader so that he made it very clear that as far as he's concerned it's not gonna.
And happened at least as part of the transportation bill you know.
-- -- there's there is some politics going on here and -- the American public is asked the question about keystone.
They have a -- -- view I think the -- say they support it on the other hand if you ask the American public should -- derail the transportation bill the roads the bridges the infrastructure.
To get keystone they would you know that makes no sense whatsoever what's -- transportation bill on its own on its merits.
Then let's have this debate about keystone.
-- -- and now.
Last question in terms.
You get a big proponent of alternative energy sources it's bidding laws for you over the years.
Are you concerned.
That Democrats may be moving away from that point of view.
Now that -- that -- some dissension in your party over this.
Well I would be concerned I'll tell you why we've got to move towards alternative energy it's the way we can't control that the future and -- My only alternative and can include natural gas where we've got an abundance of it.
One of the one of the things it is I think disingenuous about the -- debate.
Isn't that oil will by and large go for export even TransCanada that.
That will be is promoting this system for -- price per barrel of oil will -- -- about three box.
So keystone is offered as though it's some solution to gas prices -- in fact it has nothing to do with gas prices might do.
We should have American oil be used on American soil.
We should crack down speculation in the commodity market where it's really hammering -- consumers at the pump about fifty cents.
On the cost of a gallon -- gas and I think the president should deploy this strategic petroleum reserve to send a shot across the -- of the speculators these are things we can do now.
They would have a real impact on gas price.
Well Kyra we're -- -- To be with us today and I.
In -- soon -- thank you.
Every -- And so here's the question for you brother -- The Republicans love portray Barack Obama with keystone.
I mean they had been absolutely from and a coast.
They have been after him on this it's an issue that -- to the public is broadly supportive.
Com to -- -- and what's gonna happen they'll win.
They think what it would you do what the Republicans gonna do -- about July for the president's vision -- that'll keystone sounds like a pretty good idea.
Well I mean isn't that sort of victory.
For Republicans you know I have but I.
I don't think but nobody even without that issue that they.
And actually it's a it's a very good point Republicans do need to.
Learn how to.
Put a very fine point.
On what -- -- very specific attacks.
On the administration are regarding.
Energy policy and the reason the keystone he's such a good.
-- to use against Obama is is that it is so easy to understand.
And it's so easy you can consider conceptualize that -- Every right to type.
I gotta go by the Internet broadly agrees with you.
-- EB says I think today's is made up more of just getting Obama out of office -- stayed together.
And many comments from.
Reflecting that we thank you for being here brother heard.
And -- thank you for being with us tomorrow at 1130 for a full hour of power play live from Georgetown and hopefully the students last throws stuff and even if they do that'll probably be just more entertaining.
We're gonna have a big lineup.
Good debates -- barely there a great cast of characters I will be there to entertain you for that full hour of power play we look forward to seeing you that so we'll see you tomorrow.
