If you want the truth, then spread the truth

The public accuses and decries when politicians lie to them. Then the public takes up the same tactics to support its own political bias. We surely get the kind of politics we ourselves practice.

In his March 18 letter, “Senators shoot down pipeline amendment,” Russell Haught grossly misstates the facts concerning the Senate votes regarding the Keystone XL Pipeline.

An amendment to a pending transportation bill (S 1813) would stipulate that Congress, under the commerce clause of the U.S. Constitution, has the authority to approve the construction of this pipeline, from the State Department and the White House, which as I write has denied construction of Keystone XL Pipeline.

A “yes” vote would approve this amendment and pave the way for congressional approval of the vital Keystone XL Pipeline. A “no” vote would support the Obama denial of the construction.

Sen. Chuck Grassley voted yes along with 55 additional senators. Sen. Tom Harkin voted no along with 42 other senators, so this amendment failed as 60 votes are required in the Senate.

Haught refers to a following amendment to S 1813. This amendment would have done as Haught stated. It did not pass on a 33 yes, 66 no vote.

Grassley voted no along with 65 additional senators. Harkin voted yes along with 32 additional senators.

However, Haught omitted that the previous amendment to bypass the Obama denial of the Keystone XL Pipeline and allow Congress to approve the construction had been defeated.

Harkin's vote, and that of his 32 colleagues, was known as a CYA vote. Now you can tell your constituents that you voted for the things they wanted, as Haught does, but not that you voted against the things that would have allowed it to happen in the first place.

Harold L. Hammond

Coralville