GOP lays out top 3 resolutions for 2012

WASHINGTON, Dec. 31 (UPI) -- The Republican Party has three political goals for the New Year that all fall under the goal of job creation, Sen. Johnny Isakson of Georgia said Saturday.

In the party's final weekly media address of 2011, the senator said Republicans had set their goals on making it easier for small businesses to create jobs.

"We'll accomplish this by focusing on three things: fundamental tax reform, regulatory reform and energy security," Isakson said. "In 2012, Republicans will continue to fight to remove the shackles of onerous federal regulations on American small businesses."

Within the regulatory and energy areas, Isakson reiterated Republicans' support for the Keystone XL pipeline project, which would carry crude oil from Alberta, Canada, to refineries on the Gulf coast.

"This project would give America a reliable source of oil from our largest trading partner, and it would create tens of thousands of jobs for the American people," he said. "The Keystone pipeline is exactly the type of energy project this country needs."

President Barack Obama said he would put off approving the environmentally controversial project until late next year.

Isakson said while 2012 was an election year, his party had no intention of putting issues on hold in deference to campaigning.

"Americans cannot wait until after the November election," the senator said. "They need us to do our job and do it right now to create an economic climate that makes it easier to put people back to work."