GOP slams Obama for 'failed' energy policies

WASHINGTON, Aug. 10 (UPI) -- Republicans slammed President Obama Saturday for his energy policies, including his reluctance to support the Keystone XL oil pipeline backed by many Democrats.

Delivering the GOP's weekly address, Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina charged the president was "out of touch" about the number of jobs the pipeline would create, The Hill reported.

"He thinks tens of thousands of Keystone XL construction jobs are a 'blip,' and 'not a jobs plan'," Scott said.

The president has repeatedly said he thinks the pipeline will create only 2,000 jobs during its construction and 50 to 100 permanent jobs after its goes into operation.

An amendment endorsing the pipeline was supported by 17 Senate Democrats in March.

Scott also was critical of Obama's plan to restrict carbon emissions, considered a major source of global warming.

The president's slow pace on allowing energy extraction on federal lands was "preventing the creation of tens of thousands of American jobs and continuing our reliance on foreign oil," the senator said.

Expanding offshore oil drilling would create 7,500 jobs and add $2.2 billion in economic activity to South Carolina, Scott said, citing an unnamed study.

He charged Obama's "failed leadership on energy policy" would drive up the cost of living for Americans.

"We want a true all-of-the-above energy strategy, because a diverse, market-based energy portfolio of nuclear, wind, solar and other renewables means more competition and lower prices for consumers," Scott said in a transcript provided by ABC News.