Senate Votes Against Ending Debate on Keystone XL Pipeline - East Idaho News
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Senate Votes Against Ending Debate on Keystone XL Pipeline

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Getty 012715 KeystoneXLPipieline?  SQUARESPACE CACHEVERSION=1422371670568Tom Pennington/Getty Images(WASHINGTON) — The weather and some angry Democrats were responsible Monday for keeping debate on the controversial Keystone XL pipeline alive, quashing the GOP’s hopes of bring the issue up for a quick vote.

Republicans needed 60 votes to end debate on the pipeline, which would bring oil down from Canada to the Gulf of Mexico while purportedly creating tens of thousands of jobs in the U.S. The House has already voted to approve construction of the project.

However, the final tally of 53-39 was seven votes shy, partly because some Republicans’ travel plans were waylaid by the oncoming blizzard in the Northeast.

Although the GOP has enough Democratic support required to pass approval of the pipeline, some of those same lawmakers were still mad at Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell for tabling a number of their amendments last week. Thus, debate on the bill will continue at least through next week.

Even if the Senate passes a measure, the White House has threatened a veto, contending that it’s still awaiting a final review from the State Department about the environmental feasibility of the pipeline.


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