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Approve Keystone pipeline, repeal work-week requirement

From staff reports

WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. Glenn “GT” Thompson has a message for President Barack Obama: Use common sense.

He said he’s referring to Obama’s threatened veto of legislation approving the Keystone XL Pipeline project.

On Friday afternoon, the House voted 266 to 153 to approve the project, with Thompson voting with the majority.

“This is an energy and infrastructure project that over its lifespan will inject billions into the U.S. economy,” Thompson, a Republican from Howard, Pa., said. “Despite bipartisan support, the President has announced his intention to veto this common sense proposal.”

“It’s been 2,303 days and counting since the Keystone XL pipeline was first submitted to the State Department for approval. Since then, the project has been found it to be environmentally sound and a certified job creator, including contracts for Pennsylvania based firms. It is time for President Obama to set aside politics and act in the best interest of the country by allowing this project to proceed,” Thompson added in prepared statements released immediately after the House vote.

“At a time when job creation should be a top priority, the Keystone XL pipeline project will put Americans back to work and have ripple benefits throughout the economy,” added International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers’ President Edwin D. Hill.

“From pipe manufactured in Arkansas, to pump motors assembled in Ohio and transformers built in Pennsylvania, workers all over the United States will benefit from the project.”

The IBEW represents approximately 750,000 active members and retirees who work in a wide variety of fields, including utilities, construction, telecommunications, broadcasting, manufacturing, railroads and government.

According to the U.S. State Department, under the Obama Administration, construction of Keystone XL would support approximately 42,100 jobs (direct, indirect, and induced), approximately $2 billion in earnings throughout the U.S., and pose no significant environmental impacts, Thompson said.

The total estimated property tax from the project in the first full year of operations would be approximately $55.6 million in 27 counties across the country. Furthermore, the project will generate over $65 million in sales and use taxes during construction alone, the lawmaker said.

Meanwhile, Thompson voted last Thursday in support of the Save American Workers Act. The legislation, which would repeal the 30-hour work week requirement under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), passed the U.S. House of Representatives by a vote of 252-172.

“Working families in my district and across the country are seeing wages reduced and being forced into part-time employment as a result of the Affordable Care Act’s thirty hour work week requirement,” said Thompson.

“The House acted to repeal this flawed policy by passing the Save American Workers Act. Small businesses and non-profit organizations should not be placed in a position where they cannot grow and cannot continue providing good paying jobs for members of our community.”

The ACA requires employers with more than 50 full-time employees to provide employee health insurance. Because the law defines “full time” as thirty hours or more, many companies and organizations have found the mandate unworkable and unaffordable, opting for fewer employee hours in order to keep operations running.

“Like many other organizations, we agree that the thirty hour per week definition of full time employment has hampered our organization. In our industry it is very common to have a complement of both full time and part time staff.

“Roughly 30 percent of our staffing is comprised of part-time employees. Earlier this year we determined that all employees must either work 25 hours or less, or be full time at 40 hours per week,” said Wendy Pardee, Ph.D., president and CEO of Skills of Central PA, in a statement via Thompson’s office.

H.R. 30 modifies the definition of who is a “full time” employee for purposes of the ACA, repealing the thirty hour a week threshold and replacing it with forty hours per week.

“I know that many industries have cut their employees’ hours to remain under the 30-hour threshold,” Pardee added. “I want to be very clear that we need every employee we have and in general allowed employees to determine whether they would remain part time at under 25 hours or change to full time with the 40 hour per week requirement. Redefining full time status for the Affordable Care Act as 40 hours would give us back flexibility.”

Skills of Central PA is a private, nonprofit organization located in State College, that provides individuals with disabilities in 16 Pennsylvania counties with a full array of services, including employment support.

“Reducing regulatory burdens that are creating job losses and wage cuts is definitely an area where Republicans and Democrats should be able to come together and do what is right for the American people,” Thompson added.

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