So, you don’t want the oil, eh? Maybe they should change the lyrics to the song “18 Wheels and A Dozen Roses” to “18 Wheels and a Dozen Lawsuits.” That’s what it seems like as environmental activists in Missoula and elsewhere continue to oppose the Big Rigs moving across Montana roadways. The Montana Environmental Information Center even admitted earlier this week that it has nothing to do with the commercial passageway Lewis and Clark explored, and everything to do with their opposition to oil development in Canada. Meanwhile, the State Department is still studying the construction of an oil pipeline from Canada.
And, as the US balks, China talks.
Huffington Post, of all places, is featuring this AP story:
In the northern reaches of Alberta lies a vast reserve of oil that the U.S. views as a pillar of its future energy needs.
China, with a growing appetite for oil that may one day surpass that of the U.S., is ready to spend the dollars for a big piece of it.
If the U.S. doesn’t approve its pipeline promptly, Canada might increasingly look to China, thinking America doesn’t want a big stake share in what environmentalists call “dirty oil,” which they say increases greenhouse gas emissions.
UPDATED POST from The Hill: Baucus announces grand bargain to clear pending trade deals
Sen. Max Baucus (D-Mont.) announced a deal Tuesday that should clear the path for congressional approval of three pending trade agreements with Colombia, Panama and South Korea.
Baucus said he had secured an agreement with the White House and Rep. Dave Camp (R-Mich.), chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, to renew the expanded version of Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA).
Baucus said he would hold a mock markup on Thursday for all three pending trade agreements.
INITIAL POST
Meanwhile, a free trade deal with Columbia that’s being pushed by Senator Max Baucus (D-MT), Chairman of the US Senate Finance Committee, appears to be on the rocks. Sen. Baucus even led a trade group from Montana to tout his efforts.
The Wall Street Journal has this:
The top Democrat on a key House trade panel whipped up a new furor over three stalled trade deals Monday when he said he wouldn’t support a pact with Colombia if the White House and Republicans refuse to include references to pro-labor provisions negotiated by the Obama administration.
Republican leadership aides said they have Democratic support for their effort to exclude the pro-labor language from the Colombia bill from Sen. Max Baucus (D., Mont.), chairman of the Senate Finance Committee.
Aides to Mr. Baucus said he has consistently pressed for the labor provisions, and they would be included if it were only up to Democrats, but Republicans refuse to do so.