Another Day, Another Question Unanswered by Angie Craig
Apr 3, 2018Eagan, MN – Jason Lewis for Congress Campaign Manager Becky Alery released the following statement regarding Angie Craig’s silence on the Enbridge Pipeline:
“On the campaign trail it’s no surprise to hear lots of rhetoric and empty words from candidates with nothing to back them up, but Angie Craig certainly takes the cake. The latest is Craig’s so-called ‘support for labor’ without giving any indication of what that actually looks like.
“Rep. Jason Lewis, on the other hand, has actually acted on behalf of labor during his first term in Congress. He has taken atypical votes for a Republican against amendments that would prohibit funds to be used for enforcement of Davis Bacon. He has been a vocal supporter of mining in Minnesota and the thousands of union workers who depend on it. And Lewis has worked tirelessly on the Education & Workforce Committee advancing the cause of Career and Technical Education funding to support the trades and address the growing skills gap here in Minnesota. In fact, his ‘dual enrollment’ amendment in the Perkins reauthorization bill already passed the House.
“But nowhere is the gulf between rhetoric and reality more pronounced than in comparing Lewis’ steady support for Enbridge Energy’s Line 3 pipeline replacement project with Craig’s deafening silence on the issue. Indeed, replacing the 50-year-old pipeline means 8600 project-related jobs in Minnesota, $19 million in additional tax revenue and more than $2 billion in private investment. All of which means so much to labor across our state.
“But especially so in Minnesota’s Second District.
“You see, that pipeline system provides all of the oil used by Minnesota’s largest refinery in Rosemount-and Pine Bend plans to receive the oil from Line 3 if it’s built, according to their spokesman. ‘We do not take crude by rail or any other means,’ as Jake Reint, spokesperson for operator Flint Hills Resources told MPR last year. ‘Pipelines are truly essential to our ability to meet the needs of Minnesotans and others in the Midwest.’ And to cite just one example of how important this is, Pine Bend has a dedicated pipeline to Minneapolis-St. Paul Airport providing most of the facilities jet aviation fuel.
“But, where does Craig stand? In more than nine months since announcing, we have no info on where she stands on a pipeline upgrade that will affect thousands of jobs in her district. Her DFL opponent, Jeff Erdmann on the other hand has been clear—he opposes Enbridge. Then again, Erdmann also supports the ‘Medicare for All’ single payer government run health care system which Angie Craig has also refused to commit on one way or another.
“If Craig is truly in favor of labor, I’d encourage her to join Lewis in support. But I’d be willing to bet she doesn’t want to ruffle feathers with her environmental buddies who believe these crucial fuels for Minnesota’s economy contribute to global warming. So once again Craig will attempt to play both sides—not answering specific questions and hoping no one notices.
“But don’t worry, while she won’t answer our questions now, she claims she will hold town halls if elected. Kind of reminds me of Nancy Pelosi’s ‘We must pass the bill to see what’s in it’ mentality. Craig wants you to elect her, and only then will you be able to find out what she stands for.
“The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission recently approved the latest environmental review of Enbridge’s project by a 5-0 vote. The next big decision will be in June when the PUC will decide on the pipeline’s ‘certificate of need.’ Lewis says that should be approved as well so this vital project for Minnesota and the Second District can get started.
“Everyone knows where Jason Lewis stands. As for Craig, well, the clock is ticking…”
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