A Michigan congressman proposed an amendment at a recent House Appropriations budget hearing that would prohibit the State Department from using taxpayer funds to stop the flow of energy through the Line 5 pipeline in the Straits of Mackinac.
Republican representative John Moolenaar says Michigan families rely on the Line 5 to power homes and that it creates affordable energy:
"My amendment will make it clear that this congress and the United States support affordable energy for people in the Midwest and that we stand with our neighbors in Canada to the support the free flow of energy."
But the amendment was not adopted, even with some Democratic support.
Sean McBrearty is with Oil and Water Don’t Mix and wants to see Line 5 shut down. He says the attempt to change the State Department budget is disappointing given recent court documents being made public:
"Enbridge’s expert in court actually agrees with the independent experts that shutting down Line 5 won’t have a big impact on gas prices."
Enbridge, the company that owns Line 5, said in a written statement shutting down Line 5 would only add to the current energy disruption at a time when customers can least afford it.
