You're watching...
Rep. John Mica, (R-Fla.), on efforts to get approval for the Keystone Pipeline to help boost job growth.
Also in this playlist...
Auto-advance: ON
Auto-advance
This transcript is automatically generated
Got a deal on the transportation bill that was set to expire at the end of the week in order to reach a deal.
The controversial keystone XL pipeline was removed from the legislation so how lawmakers.
Move forward with the pipeline.
Joining me now.
Chairman of the transportation and infrastructure committee Republican congressman John -- up from Florida congressman thanks for joining us.
Look good to be with you and -- pipeline was one of the things that was not included.
What we had to do is act by this weekend.
Otherwise sent thousands.
Actually millions of jobs that -- across the country.
Would come to a halt because we wouldn't have federal transportation policy in place so what's the pipeline now.
-- the plan for the 55 would be -- again continue we'll see if we can't get to agreement.
The senate you know we passed at the house we send it over to the senate.
The president as opposed to so we've got two obstacles the president of the United States and the United States senate.
But the good news is we passed a two year in three months transportation bill that's.
That the Democrats weren't able to do that the president close down a six year bill that I had.
Tried to help -- -- And that we've had short term extensions short term influence on them.
Employment and now we have a chance for employment jobs in the hard hit construction construction there.
But Democrats say that you gave up the pipeline I'm sure you've heard this already today it's that you could keep it -- an issue for the election and say that President Obama stopped the pipeline.
Now well we didn't give about we head opposition by the United States senate this isn't just a one way.
You know street here.
That we had opposition by the president and also the senate wouldn't take it as a measure that the measure we did put in place.
We did great reform snow shovel ready will no longer be a joke we can actually get.
Projects under way and do them.
We have no earmarks we have no tax increases.
And we fully paid for this for two and a quarter years people will have jobs we will see people employed -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- Oh absolutely.
And again even when they tried to throw money at projects with the stimulus that didn't work.
35% of the money was still in the treasury after two and a half years.
I -- that it's true or not I apologize for interrupting you but at my page you know is there a specific job that you can point to that's gonna happen.
That we could come back and check later just -- that we know in this case shovel ready wasn't a joke.
Hundreds of thousands across the country we've dramatically -- the red tape.
We -- we're consolidating.
And eliminating some seventy DOT.
Programs that have mushroomed out of control.
Again had the biggest impediment to moving projects forward in the federal government doesn't even build and each of broad.
But they they gave -- miles and miles and stacks of athlete let's say typically permanent transportation well and try to chop off.
Well not in the Department of Transportation but we've devolved authority.
We've sped up the process for approvals have.
It's going to be a fraction of the time again very significant reforms and cutting the red tape that is stalled transportation project.
The other thing too as we've been limited in the past -- short term employment.
The Democrats had six extensions.
Very short term so you could only spend the money on small projects.
When that job in the ran out the money ran out than he had to wait for another extension very costly.
Not putting people to work and Bronx and might -- put people to work.
We got it right because we're out of time but I hope maybe you can grow this -- email us when the first person is -- -- that we can see that the shovel ready jobs really guys stand.
I'm sure you know why don't Monday okay perfect that will be next Monday I can't give me.
-- we're close down the whole country we'll bring it to our viewers on the -- we see that first man or woman on the job I can't wait are.
