Sunday Part I

"Thanks for standing up to Big Oil and rejecting the attempt to force approval of the Keystone XL Pipeline. Your leadership is greatly appreciated in protecting America from a hasty approval of the dangerous project."

Thank Sen. Brown for standing up to Big Oil.

Dear Barbara,

Big Oil thought they had it in the bag.¹ And it sure was close.

But on Thursday, after CREDO members made more than 6,000 calls to key senators in just over 24 hours, the Republicans' amendment to force approval of the Keystone XL pipeline failed by a vote of 56 — 42.²

It needed 60 votes to pass, and while it's usually hard to get to 60 in the Senate, we knew that far too many Democrats — influenced by oil money and/or re-election concerns — would be voting with Republicans and Big Oil for Keystone XL.

Yesterday we found out exactly who they were: Sens. Baucus (MT), Begich (AK), Casey (PA), Conrad (ND), Hagan (NC), Landrieu (LA), Manchin (WV), McCaskill (MO), Pryor (AR), Tester (MT), and Webb (VA) all voted to force approval of Keystone XL.

But a number of senators did stand up to Big Oil, despite facing tough re-election battles or other politically complications, including Sen. Brown. Without his taking a stand, Republicans and oil-soaked Democrats would have had enough votes to pass this amendment.

Thank Sen. Brown for standing up to Big Oil and rejecting Keystone XL.

The 56 senators who voted to force approval of Keystone XL have received 500% more money from oil interests in the current Congress than the senators who voted no.³

Clearly, some senators are more afraid of being on the other side of that oil money, than they are by the prospects of toxic oil spills in the Ogallala aquifer, or "game over" for the climate.

But while many Democrats caved, Sen. Brown did not.

It's important to acknowledge our elected officials when they do the right thing under difficult circumstances. Please sign the petition thanking Sen. Brown:
http://act.credoaction.com/r/?r=5539687&id=36393-3349455-x9g%3DcCx&t=5

As long as oil companies have money and the world wants to burn oil, there will be no end in the fight to stop Keystone XL and keep tar sands bitumen in the ground.

But defeating Keystone XL on Thursday in its first straight vote in the Senate is another strong affirmation of the power of our activism against it — and the importance of continuing to pressure our leaders to do the right thing, and thanking them when they do.

Thanks for all you do.

Elijah Zarlin, Campaign Manager
CREDO Action from Working Assets

This pipeline is far more dangerous than it is worth. We need drinking water and an alternative to fossil fuels, such as oil far more than we need the pollution that comes from the burning of fossil fuels. After all, pollution is the problem, not the solution.