McConnell Says Keystone Pipeline Will Be 2015’s First Priority
Published at
Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images(WASHINGTON) — What will be Mitch McConnell’s first order of business when he becomes majority leader of the U.S. Senate in January?
The Kentucky Republican says he’ll start work immediately in trying to get Congress to approve the controversial Keystone XL oil pipeline that has been more like a pipe dream for the past six years.
McConnell, the GOP and some Democrats argue that the proposed pipeline running from Canada to the Gulf of Mexico will create tens of thousands of jobs in the U.S. and boost oil supplies.
However, President Obama has expressed reservations about the project and is still awaiting a review from the State Department on whether a pipeline that runs through the heartland is environmentally safe.
Although a bill supporting construction of the pipeline easily passed the House, similar legislation failed to win approval in the Senate last month by one vote.
With the GOP taking control of the chamber in January, approval is virtually assured although Obama can still use his veto power to stop it.
Follow @ABCNewsRadio
Copyright 2014 ABC News Radio