Not content with shutting down power plants and destroying jobs in Ohio, Barack Obama is now denying jobs and the promise of economic growth to dozens of states across the heartland of America.  Yesterday, Obama rejected the Keystone XL pipeline, a plan by Calgary-based TransCanada Corp. to carry oil from western Canada to American Gulf refineries.  With this decision Obama is turning away hundreds of thousands of jobs that hardworking American desperately need, as well as manufacturing opportunities for struggling Ohio businesses.

Even labor unions, normally reliable Obama allies, recognized the potential growth this project represents:

“The oil industry, 14 U.S. senators and four unions representing 2.6 million workers have pushed for swift approval of the pipeline, which they said would help keep energy costs down, stimulate $20 billion in spending for the U.S. economy and spur creation of 118,000 jobs.”

Rather than listen to the concerns of millions of Americans worried about economic growth and high energy costs, or fulfill his own promises to do whatever it takes to stimulate job creation, Obama is giving in to environmental extremists unconcerned about the very real negative economic consequences of this decision.

The Houston Chronicle Editorial captures the audacity of this decision:

President Barack Obama has made a shockingly shortsighted decision by rejecting a go-ahead for construction of the Keystone XL Pipeline. By doing so, Obama has openly proclaimed the primacy of his own re-election over the nation's long-term energy and economic security.

Even as gas prices hit record levels for many Ohioans, Democrats continue to oppose increased access to domestic and friendly sources of energy.  Whether through projects like Keystone - from our ally and largest trading partner Canada - or increased offshore exploration and development in our own country, Democrats are constantly throwing up roadblocks and refusing to take decisive action to help small business and consumers.

And if rejecting the jobs, energy independence and lower costs these projects would bring isn’t bad enough, Obama and his Democratic allies continue to favor burdensome regulations and taxes that are forcing plants to close and derailing economic expansion here in Ohio.

Ohioans are being squeezed from both sides, through continued refusal to act on opportunities to increase energy access and production on the one hand, and increased regulation and mandates from Washington on energy producers on the other.

Democrats claim to be defenders of the middle class and yet their actions speak louder than their words.  Their opposition to energy growth and independence means fewer jobs, higher energy costs and, ultimately, slower economic growth.