Leadership needed to keep pipeline on schedule

Political impasses are becoming the norm today. It seems that from the perspective of the political insiders and power brokers, government's role is to align with party politics, instead of common sense. Unfortunately even with a vital job-creating endeavor like Keystone XL Pipeline, there are still games being played.

I won't even address the ridiculous notions that this pipeline would be harmful to our country for they are rooted in what Mitch Daniels accurately described as "extremism."

Jim Lynch

As governor, I wouldn't waste my time adding to the imbecilic discourse spewing from D.C. Instead I would form a partnership with the affected states and TransCanada working to streamline the process and keep this pipeline on schedule. The only piece of pipe that needs federal approval, crosses our border. We can install it last. Every other section of pipe is a state permitting decision.

The extremists on the environmental left hope that red tape and bureaucratic inefficiencies will cause private companies to give up. We need to combat that with intensity and resolve, insisting the line be built. If the Sandhills need to be bypassed, then in a matter of days, not months, our partnership of states with TransCanada will find a way.

This is the common sense solution. We need leadership that recognizes the rights that we as a state have, and when necessary, use those rights to take the federal bullies by the horns and push back hard. I will not stand hand in hand with the federal government and destroy business development, natural resource development, jobs and national security.

As your governor I would provide that leadership. Issues like Keystone XL Pipeline would be viewed, as an issue to be solved, not used as a tool to further divide us. We aren't elected to join exclusive clubhouses and throw rocks. We are elected to handle the preciously few responsibilities that only government can handle, in order to afford the best environment possible for private citizens to flourish and pursue their happiness.

(Jim Lynch of Kalispell, a former Montana Department of Transportation director, is a Republican candidate for governor.)