Bernie Sanders out of touch with Iowans

Bill Gerhard

Dec. 5, 2015 12:00 am, Updated: Dec. 7, 2015 2:57 pm

To the editor:

Bernie Sanders' misguided opposition to the Bakken pipeline demonstrates how out of touch he is with Iowa's working families ('Sanders speaks against Bakken pipeline through Iowa,” Nov. 11.)

In similar fashion to President Barack Obama's rejection of the Keystone XL pipeline, Sen. Sanders' grandstanding on the Bakken pipeline is politics at its worst. Oil from the Bakken region will move one way or the other and a pipeline would provide a safer method of transporting crude oil than railroads or trucks. It is environmental malpractice to not rely on safe transmission through pipelines. And by the way, the construction of the Bakken pipeline will create 4,000 well-paying construction jobs in Iowa.

By playing politics with the job opportunities associated with America's domestic energy renaissance - opportunities that are elevating the economic fortunes of thousands of Iowa's skilled construction workforce and their families - Sen. Sanders proves himself to be out of touch with reality and undeserving of the support of Iowa's working families.

Bill Gerhard

President, Iowa State Building and Construction Trades Council

Iowa City