Maryland delegate and Democratic National Committee member Heather Mizeur. (Photo by Katherine Frey/Washington Post/Getty Images)Some liberal Maryland lawmakers are engaging in civil disobedience to try to get President Obama’s attention on a planned oil pipeline they oppose. Another is taking a more establishment route.
Del. Heather Mizeur (D-Montgomery) is circulating a resolution among fellow Democratic National Committee members in an effort to get Obama to kill the TransCanada Keystone XL pipeline, which would stretch from Alberta to oil refineries in Texas.
Mizeur is pitching the resolution as a way for DNC members “to voice their opposition to a project that would increase carbon emissions, place one of America’s largest aquifers in the line of danger, and do little to improve America’s energy security.”
Her efforts join those of hundreds of protesters who stood in front of the White House recently seeking to raise the profile of the “tar sands” pipeline, which the U.S. State Department, charged with handling the project permit, contends would not cause significant environmental damage.
Sen. Paul G. Pinsky (D-Prince George’s) was among those arrested this month. A colleague, Sen. Jamie B. Raskin (D-Montgomery), accompanied him to the White House but was not charged.
“As advocates against this dangerous project, we’re using every tool at our disposal to get the president’s attention,” Mizeur said. “Some are getting arrested in front of the White House, others are spearheading a wave of rallies around the nation. We’re adding establishment approaches into the mix with this DNC member resolution. By signing it, leaders of the Democratic party base are telling the President we also expect him to be courageous and reject this tar sands pipeline.”
The measure will be open for signatures from DNC members until Oct. 5.
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