Green group sues State Department over Keystone lobbying documents

The State Department is heading the federal review of the proposed pipeline, which would bring oil from Alberta’s oil sands projects across the border and down to Gulf Coast refineries. But the final call is expected to come from the West Wing.

Friends of the Earth, which is among several groups fighting the proposed pipeline, has sought to highlight past ties between pro-Keystone lobbyists and Kerry, Clinton and President Obama.

For instance, the government of Alberta, which is fighting hard for U.S. approval of Keystone, this year hired the firm Mehlman Vogel Castagnetti.

Partner David Castagnetti was the head of congressional operations for Kerry’s 2004 presidential run and, as The Boston Globe notes, is a longtime Kerry supporter.