As you may all know the Keystone Pipeline XL project was vetoed by President Obama earlier this week. Why? If the state department has reported the project would create 3,900 full time construction jobs, not to mention the 30,000 jobs created through indirect economic stimulus. (Economist) But within hours Senator Mitch McConnell republican majority leader said they would have the decision overridden by next week. That is unlikely, unless they persuade the four senate votes they are short to overturn the veto.
Away from that bill and in a different corner. The immigration issue has finally risen to the top of President Obama’s agenda. However, that was not the case for the republican led congress and senate. After much deliberation and negotiation congress has failed to find a solution to the problem. With no other option left, President Obama enacted executive action introducing (DAPA) Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Lawful Permanent Residents. DAPA would allow a non-citizens, already in this country, temporary authorization to stay and issue work permits to these individuals. He also expanded protection for (DACA) Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals who have been in this country continuously since January 1, 2010.
The lack of congressional action forced President Obama to create a temporary fix. But now that executive order is stuck in a Texas court. Reuters reports that “U.S. District Judge in Brownsville, Texas issued a temporary court order on Monday stopping Obama’s executive actions that bypassed a gridlocked Congress.” 26 states brought forth a lawsuit calling into question the constitutionality of the actions. The judge has said “The states have sufficient cause to challenge.” The executive order has been slammed with an injunction and is at a standstill. However, President Obama will not go down without a fight and said the Department of Justice was going to repeal the injunction. Needless to say, this is the beginning of a legal battle for the executive branch.
Congress has been strongly rallying for the expansion of the keystone pipeline to the point of salivating for the past 5 months, and President Obama has been pressuring congress for comprehensive immigration reform for the past 2 years. Clearly, if President Obama is struggling to execute his agenda, then why should congress get what it wants? Revenge is a dish best served cold and our President has just forced congress into shelving their dream job creating pipeline.
Sources:
http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/02/24/us-usa-keystone-idUSKBN0LS2FH20150
http://www.economist.com/blogs/democracyinamerica/2015/02/keystone-xl-and-presidents-veto
http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/02/17/us-usa-immigration-idUSKBN0LL0AT20150217
The Pink Order 