President Obama has chosen a former lobbyist for the Keystone XL pipeline as his new liaison to the Senate.
Marty Paone will be the new deputy assistant for legislative affairs with the White House, the White House confirmed to the Washington Examiner. Paone has previously lobbied for construction of the 1,200-mile TransCanada Corp. oil sands pipeline on behalf of a coalition of Canadian oil companies through his job at lobbying shop Prime Policy Group, where he most recently served as executive vice president.
The Wall Street Journal first reported the hire. Paone will replace Anne Wall, who is leaving to become counselor to Treasury Secretary Jack Lew.
Paone likely will have his hands busy with Keystone XL early, as incoming Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., has said he will bring up legislation approving the Canada-to-Texas project as his first action next year. Paone pushed for approval on behalf Alberta In Situ Oil Sands Alliance.
Keystone XL has been under federal review for more than six years, as TransCanada needs a cross-border permit to finish the pipeline’s northern leg. Obama has downplayed its potential job effect in recent public comments, and also has said that whether the pipeline exacerbates climate change will be a key factor in his decision.
Environmental groups and liberal Democrats say the pipeline will contribute to climate change by helping carrying carbon-dense oil sands to the market. But oil industry groups and some labor unions want the pipeline built because they say it will create jobs — the State Department says it would create 42,100 direct and indirect jobs during its two-year construction phase — and strengthen energy security.
“As an expert on Senate procedure, [Paone] will be instrumental in helping the White House navigate complex developments like reconciliation and potential rules changes in the next Congress,” a White House official said. “Marty has longstanding Senate relationships, which will help the president advance major bipartisan legislative issues like trade and long-term transportation bill. Marty has the reputation as a tough but fair negotiator, and is known for his good sense of humor.”
Paone worked for 32 years on Capitol Hill, 30 of which were spent in the Senate.
