In a “fact-check” hitting Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX), the left-leaning Washington Post admitted that President Joe Biden killed about 11,000 construction jobs on his first day in office by canceling the Keystone XL pipeline contract.
The Post gave Cruz “two Pinocchios” for his statement asserting as much, noting that the jobs killed are construction jobs, and therefore “temporary.” Because Cruz didn’t include that the jobs were “temporary” and not permanent, he was supposedly misleading the public, the Post rationalized.
In response, Cruz highlighted Tuesday that all construction jobs are in effect “temporary,” criticizing the Post for belittling the loss of construction jobs.
“Cruz cited a real estimate of approximately 11,000 jobs, but he left out that they were all temporary,” the Post concluded. “In the same report, the State Department said the Keystone XL pipeline, if built, would require only 35 to 50 permanent positions.”
“The missing context is key here, obscuring half the story. Cruz earns Two Pinocchios.”
Cruz captioned the fact check: “WaPo (Washington Post) confirms that YES, on his 1st day in office, Joe Biden destroyed 11,000 jobs (including 8,000 union jobs). But, it says, they’re construction jobs so are only temporary.”
“ALL construction jobs are temporary,” the Republican emphasized. “Presidents still shouldn’t destroy them.”
WaPo confirms that YES, on his 1st day in office, Joe Biden destroyed 11,000 jobs (including 8000 union jobs).
But, it says, they’re construction jobs so are only temporary.
ALL construction jobs are temporary. Presidents still shouldn’t destroy them. https://t.co/ua0jJFrl23
— Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) January 26, 2021
As reported by The Daily Wire on Thursday, Canadian lawmakers, including the country’s prime minister, expressed outrage over Biden’s move to rescind a permit for a pipeline to transport oil from Canada to the Gulf Coast.
“Biden took office on Wednesday and, as one of his first acts, rescinded approval for the Keystone XL pipeline that former President Donald Trump had green-lighted in 2017,” Tim Pearce reported. “The pipeline has long been a target of environmental activists and Democratic politicians looking to stop the use of fossil fuels.”
“While we welcome the President’s commitment to fight climate change, we are disappointed but acknowledge the President’s decision to fulfill his election campaign promise on Keystone XL,” Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said in a statement.
“Canada is the single-largest supplier of energy to the United States, contributing to U.S. energy security and economic competitiveness, and supporting thousands of jobs on both sides of the border,” Trudeau added. “Workers in Alberta, Saskatchewan, and across Canada will always have our support.”
“Alberta Premier Jason Kenney said he was ‘deeply disturbed’ by Biden’s decision to stop work on the $8 billion project,” Pearce noted. “Kenney had threatened legal action earlier in the week after reports of Biden’s intent to kill the pipeline surfaced.”
The Daily Wire’s Ryan Saavedra highlighted backlash over Biden’s move from across the nation, on Monday:
Josh Senk, general manager of Michels Corporation, slammed Biden during a press conference in Wisconsin, saying, “The recent actions of President Joe Biden, the Executive Order halting the construction of the Keystone pipeline has effected Michels, thousands of union trade members across the country, and hundreds of guys that specifically work in Wisconsin.”
Senk later said that “hundreds of guys” have already been laid off.
The Associated Press noted that local leaders in New Mexico were worried about the impact that Biden’s decision would have on their state and leaders in Utah have asked Biden to reconsider his decision.
“During his inauguration, President Biden spoke about bringing our nation together. Eliminating drilling on public lands will cost thousands of New Mexicans their jobs and destroy what’s left of our state’s economy,” Carlsbad Mayor Dale Janway told the AP. “How does that bring us together? Environmental efforts should be fair and well-researched, not knee-jerk mandates that just hurt an already impoverished state.”
Native American tribes have also reportedly been angered by Biden’s decision to cancel the pipeline.