John Boehner State Of The Union Guests Include Oil Executives 'Hurt' By Keystone Decision

House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) announced ahead of President Barack Obama's State of the Union address that he will host oil executives and local leaders affected by the president’s rejection the Keystone XL pipeline, the latest attempt by House Republicans to punish Obama for failing to approve the controversial project.

"President Obama's rejection of the Keystone project has caused a public outcry and provided another example of how his policies are making our economy worse," Boehner said in a statement. "The president owes America's workers an explanation, and I hope he will provide one tonight with these leaders and job creators on hand."

Boehner's guests include Ray Brooks, the refining division manager at Marathon Petroleum Co. in Robinson, Ill., as well as Jay Churchill, the manager of Conoco Phillips' Wood River Refinery in Roxana, Ill., which had recently expanded in anticipation of the expansion of the Keystone pipeline. Also in attendance will be Dale Delie, president of a pipe producer in Little Rock, Ark., which claimed to have laid off 60 workers because of the president's decision, and Sen. Chris Langemeier, a member of the Nebraska State Legislature, who serves as chairman of the Natural Resources Committee and outspoken proponent of the Keystone XL pipeline and author of compromise legislation that paved the way for a new pipeline route in Nebraska.

The president is expected to make no mention of the Keystone XL during his address. The pipeline drew hundreds of activists, including author and advocate Bill McKibben and Greenpeace executive director Phil Radford, to a protest on the Capitol's west lawn, culminating in a colorful demonstration outside the American Petroleum Institute's headquarters.

Earlier on HuffPost:

Comments

[ennis438]

08:43 AM on 01/26/2012

Poor John. I really feel for him. The great decision for America and Americans to block construction of this pipeline will cost poor John and his friends some corporate bribes that would come their way if it was built. Of course the only ones that would benefit are the corporate mafia chieftans and their allies in Congress who are the enemies of the American people. We all know how good these corporate mafia chieftans are at preventing spills that cause harm to our environment. Just look to Yellowstone and the Gulf of Mexico the last two years. So when John Boy says this is safe, what he means is it is safe to assume that his safe(s) would have a great deal more corporate mafia money stolen from the American public in them while continued disreguard for the environment and the American public by these mafia corporations would certainly continue. Not surprised in the least, however who Boehner would select as his guest. He might try , for a change, some of the American public that he and his party have given their middle finger to.

[Dean Dalton]

05:02 AM on 01/26/2012

Let me get this straight... An Oil Pipe-Line from Canada all the way across the US to the Gulf of Mexico... Isn't there oil IN the Gulf of Mexico? So somehow its cheaper to import oil from Canada than to drill it ourselves? The last time I was in Canada EVERYTHING cost more than in the US due to higher tax rates and union labor costs. How in the world is this a better opition?

[stevegeryk]

07:05 PM on 01/25/2012

Really. "Oil Executives" hurt by the decision?? Their bonus have been reduced to hundreds of thousands instead of millions. I think that Boehner made big mistake by inviting executives. Obama always seems to invite regular people to illustrate a point. Boehner just showed how out of touch with the everyday American he is.

[Dean Dalton]

04:51 AM on 01/26/2012

Remember when all the auto executives flew to Washington DC in Lear Jets looking for a bail-out?

[stevegeryk]

08:00 AM on 01/26/2012

The auto execs were not guests at the SOTU address to try and prove a point. They were stupid to do that, but it really has nothing to do with my comment. Sorry if I didn't phase it properly.

[valeball]

06:46 PM on 01/25/2012

Obama gave Boehner his "pipeline" last night.

[Todd Behrmann]

06:19 PM on 01/25/2012

The oil companies hurt?!?! HOW ABOUT THE PEOPLE who's lives would be ruined by the pipeline leaking into the largest water table of North America? The oil companies have enough money!

[Christopher Beech]

05:52 PM on 01/25/2012

What would happen if President Obama let the GOP have their way and this pipe line is built. What do you think they ( GOP ) would say after the pipe line leaked and contaminated the water used by many in those states as drinking water and by farmers, do you think that they would take the blame or blame Obama ? Perhaps they might try to say that by having to hire so many to try to clean up the mess that they created jobs. Up in Canada they do not want the pipelines running accross more land than is needed to be shipped accross the US because they are afraid of leaks and damage to their enviroment. You don't think that jobs are needed there and of all the jobs that would be created if they built the refineries in Canada President Obama has not said no to the project he has said that we need time to study it and it's possible impact on the enviroment and that is he way to go.

[casper 412]

06:45 PM on 01/25/2012

The canadians are much smarter!! why pollute their enviroment when you've got a bunch of greedy politicans who don't mind their own people being harmed here in the US?

[contrarian26]

07:18 PM on 01/25/2012

The canadians are not smart. They are polluting all of Alberta with this tar sands mining operation. It is destroying all of the Boreal forest eco system and spewing more toxins and pollution everyday than one and a half millian cars. not to mention polluting thier own drinking water in Alberta. They have toxic lakes from the operation so big they will have poison the landscape and animals around it for centuries. They are polluting a land mass the size of Florida! All for Oil money.

[Debmeister]

04:23 PM on 01/25/2012

And I thought the controversial guests spoken of would be Bert and Ernie.

[Dmpolis]

03:56 PM on 01/25/2012

Not only in America but in Canada as swell there are those who are against this monstrosity of ecological problems. But then oil execs don't really care about that kind of thing as long as the money rolls in. Our American state Department was the first to question Keystone. Our farmers in Minnesota and other agriculture states are worried oil spills will pollute their aquifer.If our oil tanks for home oil heat it is a big deal to clean up such a spill and we must do it. Oil pipelines do leak. But must we take the risk with our precious water supply. The heat generated will also be a problem. To much risk for oil that will be sent overseas.To much risk for healthy clean water for cattle and crops. It is said the Bush family bought up huge tracks of land with clean water under it in Argentina.If so why were they knowingly doing so because of this proposed attack on our lands as well as our oceans? But the GOP will continue to court big oil.

[casper 412]

06:57 PM on 01/25/2012

Because they are part of the hypocracy that control our government.These people care about one thing.Money and the power that goes with it.

[hrc04]

03:17 PM on 01/25/2012

Were they hurt by Keystone or by Obama threatening their subsidies?

[MDean]

02:34 PM on 01/25/2012

Change the route of the gallram pipeline and stop exposing even more of our country to the risks of oil spills, like those that resulted from the initial Keystone pipeline.

[dencuddy]

02:31 PM on 01/25/2012

So he brings his oil industry cronies to the SOTU? How much exactly does Boehner owe the oil industry?

[thomasskycap]

02:23 PM on 01/25/2012

One of the most humorous things I observe was Eric Cantor, his expressions and his hands attempting to clap, but not seeming to get coordinated, he appeared to be as nervous as a pork chop at a dog convention.

[stelaford]

02:09 PM on 01/25/2012

It's way past time for this country to go green. It seems to me the most logical people to start the turnover are the big oil and gas moguls. That's where the big money is. They're content to ride the wave until that last drop of oil is gone. Why not use the free winds that blow all over God's green earth and the sun in the heavens. Clean, renewable energy. We have to start sometime and the sooner the better as Asthma and other respiratory diseases are on the rise. It seems to me just setting up the infrastructure and making and improving on equipment would keep many people employed. We don't need the Keystone Dirty Pipeline. What an awful mess that could create after a tornado, flood or earthquake or other natural disaster, accident or terrorist attack.

[Dean Dalton]

05:04 AM on 01/26/2012

You are correct. Why is there not some sort of serious incentive for the average American home-owner to have solar panels or a wind-mill or some sort of green power option. Something. Anything would be a start.

[stelaford]

10:47 AM on 01/26/2012

I just found out there is a woman in this small town in Massachusetts who seeks grants for solar panels for public buildings and private property and she does it for no paycheck.
It's her own private contribution due to her passion for clean, renewable energy now that she's retired. Quite amazing!

[martha p]

01:46 PM on 02/02/2012

Yes! Why oh Why do we not have residential tiny windmills to generate what each household uses? Seems so simple to me. Yet BigOil will do almost ANYthing to
keep us all dependent on them. Guess the money's too good to stay a good person!
What a Shame for our children that we cannot move past these BigOilBoogers.

[vallesula]

01:57 PM on 01/25/2012

What hole did Boehner crawled out of to attend the SOTU speech ??.

Ever since Congress' number went through the floor, we haven't heard a beep outta this guy or his henchman, Cantor.

By the way, since when is a rookie (Boehner ) allowed to critize a super-star ( Obama ) ????

[casper 412]

02:13 PM on 01/25/2012

PROBABLY THE LOCAL WATERING HOLE!! SURPRISED HE DIDN'T CRY.

[vobox3343]

01:46 PM on 01/25/2012

Quick, pull a rabbit out of your hat - Obama Favorability Soars While Gingrich And Romney Become Unelectable