Red Bluff Daily News

November 19, 2014

Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/418554

Contents of this Issue

Navigation

Page 7 of 15

ByDavidEspo TheAssociatedPress WASHINGTON In a com- bustible blend of oil and politics, the Democratic- controlled Senate rejected legislation Tuesday night to force completion of the Keystone XL Pipeline. Re- publicans vowed to resur- rect the controversial is- sue soon after taking two- house control of Congress in January. The 59-41 Senate vote was one short of the 60 needed to clear the House- passed measure, and marked a severe blow to embattled Sen. Mary Landrieu of Louisiana. While President Barack Obama and much of her party oppose the bill, the third-term Democrat had commandeered control of the chamber's agenda in hopes of securing approval of the project and boost- ing her chances in an up- hill Dec. 6 runoff election. All 45 Senate Republi- cans supported the legisla- tion to build the Canada- to-Texas pipeline. Only 14 of 55 Democrats and allied independents joined them, a total that didn't budge de- spite an appeal by the Lou- isiana Democrat behind closed doors a few hours before the vote. The vote was one of the last acts of this Senate con- trolled by the Democrats. It is expected to complete its work by mid-December. But Republicans said a pipeline replay with the potential to spark a veto confrontation with Obama would be coming — and soon. Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., and the incoming majority leader, said within minutes of the vote, "I look forward to the new Repub- lican majority taking up and passing the Keystone jobs bill early in the new year." Her political career in jeopardy, Landrieu told re- porters, "I'm going to fight for the people of my state until the day that I leave, and I hope that will not be soon." Rep. Bill Cassidy, Landrieu's Republican op- ponent, said that Louisi- ana families "need better jobs, better wages and bet- ter benefits," and the pipe- line would provide them. Democratic divisions were on vivid display in a bill that pitted environ- mentalists against energy advocates. While Obama opposes the measure, likely 2016 presidential candidate Hill- ary Rodham Clinton has repeatedly refused to take a position. Most recently, her spokesman did not re- spond to two requests over the weekend to do so. Among Senate Demo- crats, 14 had publicly an- nounced their support for the bill in the hours be- fore the vote, but several whom Landrieu had hoped would provide the criti- cal 60th vote needed for passage failed to step for- ward. Among retiring law- makers. Jay Rockefeller of West Virginia, Tim Johnson of South Dakota and Tom Harkin of Iowa all said in advance they would oppose the bill. Sen. Angus King, I- Maine, who opened the door on Monday to becom- ing the 60th vote, slammed it shut a few hours later. Several Democrats said the issue was discussed at some length at a weekly closed-door meeting of the party's senators. Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia, a supporter of the bill, said Landrieu pointed out that "this vote is going to hap- pen, whether it happens now or it happens in Janu- ary, same outcome, so why not do it now? She brought it to a head." The project would move oil from Canada into the United States and eventu- ally to the Gulf Coast. Sup- porters say it would create jobs and ease American de- pendence on Middle East oil. A government environ- mental impact statement also predicts that a pipeline would result in less damage to the climate than moving the same oil by rail. Critics argue that the drilling itself is environ- mentally harmful, and said much of the Canadian crude would be exported with little or no impact on America's drive for energy stability. 59-41 SENATE VOTE Se na te re je ct s oi l pi pe li ne ; Republicans pledge replay CAROLYNKASTER—THEASSOCIATEDPRESS Sen. Mary Landrieu, D-La., chairwoman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, and the Keystone XL oil pipeline bill sponsor, turns from a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday. THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Russian President Vladimir Putin attends a meeting Tuesday of the All-Russia Popular Front in Moscow. By Vladimir Isachenkov The Associated Press MOSCOW Russian Pres- ident Vladimir Putin ac- cused the United States Tuesday of trying to make Russia submissive; an effort he said won't succeed. Speaking at a televised meeting with pro-Kremlin activists Tuesday, Putin said that Washington "wants to subdue us, wants to solve its problems at our expense." "No one has succeeded in doing so in the history of Russia, and no one will," he added. He said the sanctions against Russia imposed by the U.S. and the European Union run contrary to their own interests. He said U.S. allies in Europe were trying to "protect others' national interests" for reasons that were unclear. The sanctions over Mos- cow's annexation of Crimea and support for a pro-Rus- sian insurgency in eastern Ukraine have exacerbated Russia's economic problems and contributed to a sharp devaluation of the Russian ruble. Putin sought to project an optimistic image Tues- day, downplaying the ru- ble's nosedive and saying that a ban on Western food introduced in response to Western sanctions would boost local industries. He also voiced confidence that the current Russia- West tensions would abate, saying that "no one wants to exacerbate the situation in the world." Responding to an ac- tivist's proposal to impose quotas on U.S. movies in Russian theaters, Putin re- jected it, saying that the public should be given the right to choose. The Russian leader downplayed his quick de- parture from the week- end's summit of the Group of 20 in Brisbane, Austra- lia, rejecting media allega- tions that he left early be- cause of a chilly treatment given to him by Western leaders. He insisted that he held "constructive" discus- sions in Brisbane. Putin was the first leader to fly out of Brisbane on Sunday afternoon as his fellow leaders in the G-20 shared a lunch and before they released the commu- nique to cap off their an- nual summit. He departed shortly before President Barack Obama and Euro- pean leaders opened their talks on Ukraine. Putin: US wants to subdue Russia MEETING WITH ACTIVISTS By Eric Tucker The Associated Press WASHINGTON As local au- thorities in Missouri near the end of their investiga- tion in the Ferguson shoot- ing, a broader federal civil rights review could hold a greater potential to re- fashion the police depart- ment and bring long-last- ing change. While a St. Louis County grand jury investigates the Aug. 9 shooting of 18-year- old Michael Brown, the Jus- tice Department is investi- gating, too. More than two months into its probe of the Ferguson department's practices, the civil rights in- quiry is focusing on use-of- force, stops and searches and possible patterns of discrimination in the ways that officers in the predom- inantly white department interact with the majority- black community. Results are likely months away and may do lit- tle quickly to mollify the community. But whether or not officer Darren Wil- son ends up facing state or federal criminal prose- cution, the civil rights in- vestigation will continue. In similar cases, broad fed- eral investigations of po- lice departments have dic- tated changes in how of- ficers carry out the most fundamental of tasks, from searching suspects to mak- ing traffic stops. "If the end goal of this is to ensure that no one's civil rights get violated, that ev- eryone is treated decently and their constitutional rights are protected, the best thing that can come out of this is an overall look at the department," said David Weinstein, a former federal civil rights prosecu- tor in Miami. Outgoing U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder has made the overhaul of trou- bled police departments among his civil-rights pri- orities. In the past five years, the Justice Depart- ment has investigated some 20 police depart- ments for problems that in- clude treatment of the men- tally ill, high numbers of of- ficer-involved shootings and patterns of excessive force and racial bias. Police de- partments in Detroit, Se- attle and New Orleans are among those that have com- mitted to reforms. A county grand jury is ex- pected to announce any day whether it will indict Wilson, and federal authorities also are investigating the shoot- ing for potential civil rights violations. Concerned about reactions if Wilson is not in- dicted, police are bracing for protests, and Missouri's gov- ernor has activated the state National Guard. Separately, the Justice Department on Sept. 4 an- nounced a broad investiga- tion into the police force, with Holder pointing to a "deep mistrust" by resi- dents and a lack of racial diversity among the Fergu- son officers. More recently, he's described a need for "wholesale change" at the department. CIVIL RIGHTS REVIEW Pr ob e of F er gu so n po li ce c ou ld p ro mp t br oa d cha ng e 3rd Annual Shopping Bazaar! Join Us For An Evening of FUN, FOOD & PRIZES! VendorsInclude: • Creative Party Jewelry & Scarves • TC Woodburnings (Pens, Bottle Stoppers) • Essential Oils • Pamper Chef • Mary Kay • DM Kydex Gun Holsters • Damsel In Defense (Pepper Spray & Tasers) • Ray's Therapeutic Bodyworks Massage • Rocking S Creations (Aprons & Pot Holders) Wednesday, November 19 th 6:30 P.M. to 8:30 P.M. Coldwell Banker C&C Properties 741 Main St. Suite 2 Red Bluff, Ca. 96080 For Further Information Please Call Selena Smith at 530-200-0065 Servicingyourdisposalneedsin Tehama County, and the City of Red Bluff including Residential, Commercial, and Temporary bin services. GREENWASTEOFTEHAMA A WASTE CONNECTIONS COMPANY 530-528-8500 1805 AIRPORT BLVD. RED BLUFF, CA GreenWasteisaproud supporter of local events. STOVEJUNCTION The TheNorthState'spremiersupplierofstoves 22825 Antelope Blvd., Red Bluff 530-528-2221 • Fax 530-528-2229 www.thestovejunction.com Over 25 years of experience Tues-Sat9am-5pm• ClosedSun&Mon Now Carrying! GreenMountainGrills & Accessories Serving Butte, Glenn & Tehama Counties | NEWS | REDBLUFFDAILYNEWS.COM WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2014 8 A

Articles in this issue

Links on this page

Archives of this issue

view archives of Red Bluff Daily News - November 19, 2014