Subject: National Journal: CTR Releases HRC Energy Analysis
From: Burns Strider <[email-masked]>
To: CTRFriendsFamily <[email-masked]>
Date: Thu, 22 Jan 2015 17:38:14 -0500
List-Id: <CTRFriendsFamily.americanbridge.org>

*National Journal: “Clinton Ally Defending Her From Keystone Attacks”
<http://www.nationaljournal.com/politics/clinton-ally-defending-her-from-keystone-attacks-20150122>*

By Emily Schultheis

January 22, 2015

[Subtitle:] The Democratic opposition research firm Correct The Record is
touting her record on energy.

Hillary Clinton has long avoided addressing whether she supports the
construction of the Keystone XL pipeline – a project that earns rare
bipartisan support in the Senate but is opposed by the Obama
administration. Her latest dodge came in Canada, where she gave two paid
speeches Wednesday and offered no comment on the subject.

But she's now getting an assist from a leading Democratic opposition
research firm in defending her record on energy. Correct the Record, an arm
of American Bridge which is closely allied with Clinton's campaign, will
release a new report today boosting the former Secretary of State's record
on other energy issues, a move that comes as the new Republican-controlled
Senate debates a Keystone vote.

The report
<http://correctrecord.org/hillary-clinton-smart-energy-innovation/> lists
nine areas where Clinton was involved in energy-related efforts, including
"fighting for clean energy" in the Senate and "prioritizing cleaner energy
worldwide."

Speaking at a "Global Perspectives" event in Winnipeg Wednesday, Clinton
again declined to state her position on the pipeline, a move that dominated
much of the coverage following the speech. "We have differences and you
won't get me to talk about Keystone because I have steadily made it clear
that I'm not going to express an opinion," she said. "It is in our process
and that's where it belongs." (She's previously said it would be
inappropriate for her to offer a position either way, given her tenure at
State and the State Department's ongoing formal review process.)

The report, titled, "Hillary Clinton: Smart Energy Innovation," doesn't
mention Keystone, but focuses on Clinton's efforts on other aspects of
energy policy from her tenure in the U.S. Senate and as Secretary of State.

"Hillary Clinton's record on energy policy and the environment demonstrates
that she acutely recognizes the challenges and realities we face," Correct
the Record spokeswoman Adrienne Watson said. "She has fought to advance
clean, alternative energy solutions to create jobs, boost our economy and
preserve the environment for future generations."

While in the Senate, Correct the Record notes, Clinton co-sponsored
legislation like the Clean Power Act and the Diesel Emissions Reduction Act
to encourage better technologies for power plants and vehicles. She also
co-sponsored the Electric Reliability Act to help modernize America's power
grid.

At State, Clinton helped coordinate a regional partnership with other
countries in the Americas to promote clean energy development and reduce
greenhouse gas emissions. The report also notes her role in launching the
U.S.-Africa Clean Energy Finance Initiative, as well as her efforts to
bring China to the table to cooperate on energy and environmental goals.

Correct the Record has put out similar reports
<http://correctrecord.org/the-record/> to bolster Clinton's record on other
issues: they began with one on the economy
<http://www.politico.com/story/2014/04/hillary-clinton-correct-the-record-2016-elections-economy-105439.html>
last
spring and have hit on the former Secretary of State's record on issues
such as foreign policy, minimum wage raises and education. As the sole
group defending Clinton ahead of her expected 2016 campaign, Correct the
Record has worked to get out ahead of Clinton critics on issues as they
arise.

Keystone, in particular, is a politically fraught issue for Clinton,
because taking a stance either way would disappoint different segments of
the Democratic electorate. By saying she supports construction of the
pipeline, which would run from Canada to the Gulf Coast, Clinton would put
herself at odds with the White House, which has vowed a veto should
Republicans pass legislation approving it. And among key Democratic
constituencies, environmental groups oppose the pipeline, while labor
leaders have said it would help create jobs.

Asked about Clinton's lack of a position Keystone, Watson echoed Clinton's
own rationale for not commenting on the issue.

"Secretary Clinton has repeatedly stated that, as the former Secretary of
State who oversaw the department charged with completing the environmental
assessment of the Keystone project, it would be inappropriate to comment
and risk influencing the process until this assessment is complete."