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A top building trades union is launching a midterm-election assault on House Democrats who oppose construction of the Keystone XL oil pipeline.
A letter distributed Friday by the Laborers' International Union of North America (LIUNA) to the districts of 27 House Democrats calls for union members to make sure their representative "feels the power and the fury of LIUNA this November."
"For every action, there is a reaction, and our reaction to this frontal assault on our way of life needs to be loud and clear. If you do not stand with us, we sure as hell will not stand with you," O'Sullivan wrote, noting the jobs Keystone would create for union members.
LIUNA also sent letters to the House Democrats directly, dangling the 2014 election threat in front of each member. The Democrats on LIUNA’s hit list include Reps. Frank Pallone Jr. (N.J.), Anna Eshoo (Calif.), Raúl Grijalva (Ariz.) and Tim Ryan (Ohio).
The push by LIUNA underscores the backlash President Obama might face in November if he punts a decision on the oil-sands pipeline past the election. The decision pins Obama between different factions in the Democratic base.
The State Department is wrapping up its national interest determination of the project. That is expected to end by early May, allowing Kerry to send his recommendation over to the White House.
Last month, the North America's Building Trades Union and LIUNA met with the American Petroleum Institute to press Obama on approval of the pipeline, linking the delay to broader anger at the administration within the labor movement.
"Our anger doesn't just stop with Keystone XL," O'Sullivan told The Hill in March. "We are extremely angry about the Affordable Care Act and the fact that there is 12.8 percent unemployment in construction.".....snip~
Read more: Union threatens retribution for House Dems opposing Keystone | TheHill
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