Clinton opposes construction of Keystone XL pipeline

Hillary Clinton broke her long-standing silence on the construction of the Keystone XL pipeline, telling voters at a campaign stop in Iowa on Tuesday that she opposes the project.

She said the project has become an impediment to efforts to fight climate change. "I think it is imperative that we look at Keystone pipeline as what I believe it is, a distraction from the important work we have to do to combat climate change," she said. "And unfortunately, from my perspective, one that interferes with our ability to move forward to deal with the other issues. Therefore, I oppose it. I oppose it."

Clinton, the front-runner for the Democratic nomination for president, previously said she shouldn't take a position on the issue, saying she didn't want to interfere with the White House's deliberations on allowing the project, which would transport oil from Canada's tar sands to refineries on the Gulf of Mexico.

But she expressed impatience in recent weeks over the drawn-out decision on the pipeline, which has been vigorously opposed by environmental activists and liberals — key voter segments in the Democratic primaries. Her campaign events in New Hampshire and Maine last week were attended by activists holding signs with her campaign slogan "I'm ready for Hillary" plus the tweak "to say No KXL." 

The Associated Press