This page has been archived and commenting is disabled.
Congress Passes Keystone XL Pipeline Bill, Senate Can't Block, Obama Veto To Come?
As somewhat expected the House passed the Keystone XL Pipeline approval bill:
- *HOUSE PASSES KEYSTONE APPROVAL BILL 252-161; SENATE VOTE NOV 18
It is relatively clear that the Senate does not have the votes to be able to overturn and thus it will be forced on to President Obama's desk - "to veto" or "not to veto."
BREAKING: House approves #KeystoneXL pipeline, raises pressure on Pres Obama to act #4jobs: http://t.co/GQBCElGxli pic.twitter.com/RtmEvogSX8
— Speaker John Boehner (@SpeakerBoehner) November 14, 2014
"We are going to make it as easy as possible for the Senate to finally get a bill to the president's desk that approves this long-overdue Keystone XL pipeline," said Republican Representative Bill Cassidy from Louisiana, who is sponsoring the House bill.
Approval for the pipeline, which would help transport oil from Canada's oil sands to refineries along the U.S. Gulf coast, has rested with the administration as it crosses an international border.
The decision has been pending for more than six years amid jousting between proponents of the pipeline who say it would create thousands of construction jobs and environmentalists who say it would increase carbon emissions linked to climate change.
Obama, speaking at a news conference in Myanmar on Friday, said his position on the 800,000 barrels per day pipeline had not changed.
...
The White House has not made clear whether Obama would use his veto to block the bill currently before Congress, but he has threatened to use that power in the past.
The Senate was still one vote shy of the 60 needed to overcome a filibuster, or blocking procedure, and pass a companion bill, an aide to a Keystone supporter in that chamber said on Friday. The Senate vote is expected next Tuesday.
* * *
»
- 14711 reads
- Printer-friendly version
- Send to friend
- advertisements -
Let me guess, Miss Piggy from La voted for it.
Warren Buffett/Charlie Munger want oil shipped by railway only!
Yep, this is a Warren favor for democrats and for republicans it is Warren revenge.
>> for republicans it is Warren revenge.
If by that you mean a huge windfall for Koch Industries, you are correct. But that's ok, their billionaire crony fuckwad is bad, our billionaire crony fuckwad is good.
With the oil price collapse, this pipeline makes more and more sense every day!
Especially if they ship some Crown Royal in it too!
And is it "scotch-o-clock" yet!?
There's a reason Genteel Grandpa Buffett publicly backed Zero in both 2008 & 2012.
I love how the people whose land this pipeline will traverse have zero say in the outcome. It's all left vs. right, save the environment or save the economy... but to hell with private ownership. I see it everywhere... FOX, CNN, HufPo and here, it's all the same.
That pipeline will cross my family's farmland when/if it's built. The pipeline company is currently offering $200/yr for the land usage rights, could they be any more generous?
That much in oil will probably leak out onto your land per year.
Even it the project gets started they might not finish it...
http://www.e-catworld.com/2014/11/12/cold-fusion-the-cat-is-finally-out-...
http://www.e-catworld.com/2014/11/13/patent-application-published-of-bri...
http://www.e-catworld.com/2014/11/11/rossi-on-manufacturing-reactors-fuel/
I look forward to the days where they stop mangling trees to keep power lines free from branches but more so when they start taking down all the power lines and scrapping them because everyone will generate their own energy at home and have portable reactors.
I know were not there yet but soon...
TruthInSunshine, you hit the nail precisely on the head! +1!
And, from what I heard from Obama's speech today, he never had any intentions of ever supporting this pipeline regardless of whether it's supported by Congress, the Senate, and the states through it would travel...his excuses are lame and without merit, imho.
Earlier, Congress refused to vote in favor of selling the pipeline output only to Americans. Bottom line, the output is going to be sold to the highest bidder - and that will be outside of the U.S.
Why should middle America place their pastureland and wild spaces at risk in order to increase the supply of oil to other countries?
I don't think the answers to my question are lame and without merit.
$10 says there likely all sorts of pro-war and surveillance state garbage tacked onto it as well.
That would be the only way to get Obama NOT to veto it. The Rethugs could then scream "HE'S AGAINST THE TROOPS" or some other sort of jingoism.
Don't know why this got the down votes, as you are probably right since it seems most bills like this are nowadays. Fine with this pipeline, as that oil is going to be used somewhere. However , if it results in even one case of eminent domain trampling people's property rights then I am against it. They can find another way without using the guns of govt to steal people's land for them.
I'm betting on an immigration package...
I'm not sure why BO wouldn't just veto anything and everything from now on.
What does a real autocrat have to lose at this point?
His ass.
What, the Republicans are going to assassinate him?
I don't think so. I think that game's been forbidden for decades.
The Clinton Camp might.
The thought of President Biden...pretty much stops bothside from action.
Yes, Dan Quayle does look like a genius in retrospect.
...at least Biden is a U.S. born citizen...
Senate can't block? But the senate is still one vote short of the 60 necessary to allow a vote on the companion bill. How is that not blocking? (Not understanding.)
Veto, damnit, veto!
Obama won't.
Most likley he'll use a veto to show he's "serious" about not backing down, then will back down in a few months after some "negotiating."
Both the Obama and GOP will milk this to ensure they can position themselves of having "won" while the public and tbhe environment gets it up the a$$.
your proof that blue or red team are the same
Yeah, republicans barking BS that 'it will create much needed jobs', then turn around and expand H1-B visas to the moon. Fucking hypocrites.
>> 'it will create much needed jobs
Hey bro, I hear tell there's 35 good paying full time jobs to result from that. I'd say that's something worth the solid focus of our country.
So how many Zero Hedgers plan on dropping off their resume once this pipeline bill passes?
Probably none.
The same people that squawk like parrots, squawking "Jobs! Jobs! Moar Jobs! Jobs" most likely wouldn't be willing to do the line of work they advocate so much.
So, your argument is that someone is a hypocrite, if they favor creating jobs, even when they personally are not qualified for those jobs?
Maybe you should go back to HuffPo, where bullshit like that flies.
fucking morons in favor of this shit? US gets all the risk of having leaky piplelines through its lands and water... and fucking zero payoff. that oil will go over seas morons. it wont serve us but for a small bump in shitty slave like jubs.
wtf is the matter with the idiots that buy this kool aid?
I live in FL. fucking drill baby drill sheeple.
>> wtf is the matter with the idiots
This is epic red team/blue team stuff here. Red team is about to run an interception back for a touchdown. Go Koch Go!!!!
Hey Grey Beard, if you knew what the phuck you were talking about you would know that this pipeline will hurt Koch's interests.
One look at your pic and it obvious you've spent your life humping door knobs with your ass at the retard training center so I should have expected no effort in facts.
So good paying jobs in the US to process one foreign nations product and sell to another is a problem? Shitty slave jobs? You're an idiot. Maybe we should just concentrate on more burger flipping and financial industry jobs.
Obama Veto? You mean the "Buffet" veto. Buffet bought a railroad. Not a Pipeline. Obozzo does what the billionaires tell him to do... Remember when Buffet visited the White House? What the Fuck do you think they talked about? Reggie Love's "Johnson" in Obamas Butt? Actually, they probably discussed both items...
Oboma butt is a pipeline...so yes.
Nothing to see here but bad theater. Obozo will veto, count on it!
Kicking out the stops for the NAU, stupid Americans. This is the best the traitors can do. For themselves of course.
Dear Leader Obama: "We don't need no stinking jobs. We need more illegal alien voters."
We all know that pipeline would give way too much leverage to Texas, or not ?
Also explains the Dem-Rep schism to me.
( just a shot in the dark )
>> Also explains the Dem-Rep schism
Buffet/Dems want no pipleline, Buffet cashes in.
Koch/Repubs want pipeline, Koch wins.
The country or the people no longer matter. It's all about who's billionaire crony cashes in.
sad if true
"...environmentalists... say it would increase carbon emissions linked to climate change."
Time to unveil the new lie/damage scale. It's much like the Saffir Simpson Scale used to rate a hurricane's intensity.
It's the GRUBER-OBAMA Scale. The GRUBER-OBAMA Scale is only used for when a lie is so BIG and the DAMAGE so widespread that it will reach into every American's home and pocketbook and change America forever. Here' goes:
Global Warming: G-O level 5
Immigration/Amnesty/Presidential Decree: G-O level 5
Obama Care: G-O level 5
Common Core: G-O 5
9-11: G-0 5
Nevermind, don't need a scale when everything's a 5.
Keystone (tar sands pipeline)
1) is exempted from form the clean-up tax oil companies have to pay,
and hence any clean-ups will have to be paid by the US taxpayers and other companies.
To sum: no real penalty to Keystone for spills and clean ups.
2) Keystone, a foreign based corporation, is being granted "eminent domain" over property owned by US citizens.
[Bad enough, and precedent-wise, even worse should TPP trade deals promoting corporate rights over national laws be approved]
Perhaps some ZH readers should be a little more circumspect about deals favoring any TBTF corporations, financial or other.
You are 100% wrong and spreading false information. TransCanada is 100% responsible for responding, cleaning and restoring the site in the event of any pipeline leak.
Keystone shall repair or replace all property removed or damaged during all phases of construction and operation of the proposed transmission facility, including but not limited to,all fences,gates and utility, water supply,irrigation or drainage systems. Keystone shall compensate the owners for damages or losses that cannot be fully remedied by repair or replacement, such as lost productivity and crop and livestock losses or loss of value to a paleontological resource damaged by construction or other activities.
Secondly, it far more safe and far more energy efficient to transfer the oil via pileline than via train.
"Keystone" will be responsible, once Transcanada sells out, keystone will be nothing but a shell corp.
Buffet paid him and surely will pay him a bit more to Veto it.
(If Obama is smart enough to press this little crony icecream eating bastard).
So much for Obama's promise in Peking about fighting global warming and climate change if this passes...
another degree warmer would be fine with me...it's way too cold out today.
hey, just a thought, how about building a oil/gas pipeline from Americas to Europe ?
Any idea about cost vs shipping ? Think big guys, think big.
Game over for the planet I guess then.
Ah yes CONgress, that grand, benevolent asylum for the aged and infirmed.
you get the politicians you deserve. I know, this is very harsh.
ofcourse cheep oil from canada at a 30% discount... ofcourse pipeline is going through...
this only benefits the Cock brothers
In view of most comments it appears most ZH'ers are against this. While Russia and China are building thousand mile pipelines the US should build .... none.
While China refuses to join the whackos in the US reducing their "Global Warming" gas the US reduces by 25% or more.
While some here are retired and apparantly don't require money it appears they may think no one else needs a job either and if you live in cities like Ft Lauderville they don't need food either.
While many here scoff at Global Warming (me too) and environmentalists in general they are suddenly worried about both.
While we complain the US government is constantly getting in the way of business many here want a veto of the project.
Many report that there will be no real job gains, or Eminent Domain will prevail over the real owners but there are no links? heresay?
Just sayin...
EDIT: I have looked but could find nothing stating the Keystone oil would all be sold to foreign nations. Heck a lot of our existing Shale oil is being exported so I don't see the validity in the argument. The below link is a CATO article in 2011 arguing the case for Keystone.
http://www.cato.org/publications/commentary/keystone-xl-energy-project-i...
Cato as your source? Facepalm.
Wasn't my "source" Limo. Just one of the many articles I looked at. Probably one more than most others.
Working in the oil business offshore for a good part of my life I am used to hearing the hysterics without the proof sort of speak. For example: Solar panels are "Green Energy" wow,,, anyone have a clue how much oil it takes to create these panels that are only 13-15% efficient? How about all those Green and clean batteries it takes to run the inverters when the sun sets or it's cloudy? But it's Green!
Then to call oil Dino fuel as if it comes from the Dinasaur age. What about the large hydrocarbon sea on Saturns moon Titan. Think Dino had space travel? Oil is 'natural'. If anything is Green it's oil and it's abiotic. The earth is constantly making more of the horrible stuff.
Maybe we should file an injunction against the Earth? After all it created and still creates the oil and horrendous carbon gas that is so bad for it's climate.
It's not the pipeline per se that is objectionable, it is what is being carried in it, how much environmental damage what is being carried in it causes, and who is being served by it--certainly nothing meaningful about it is in the in US best interests beside the initial construction jobs (which may well go to illegal immigrant labor, to boot).
Barry needs to veto it so uncle Warren can haul all that oil with his choo choo.
Nice Try Guys, but you'll need 290 yes votes to override a veto.
obama has many similarities to senator stilson in the book/movie the Dead Zone with christopher walken. this clip sums it up:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tj9M34DzAKo
ummm... your giving obama tooooooo much credit ... he's an Idiot and needs a wookie to wipe his own ass
now putin is a psychopath... he'd pull the switch as long as it hurts the russian people
Wow, one week after (s)elections?
It's almost like there is some dirty lobbyist money involved...
Okay, I gotta ask, does Canada not have any refineries to turn this into fuel? I mean, they can't build this pipeline to the West (which is being fought by native canadians, despite it being the shortest distance to China), they can't build it to the east (business interests fighting over who benefits from the pipeline in that direction, even though it would then be sent to Europe).
So they want to run it through the breadbasket of the US and eventually spill who knows how many hundreds, thousands, million barrels of oil when the rupture eventually occurs or just when a weak spot is detected by the leak of oil. And all those "construction" jobs, end when the pipeline is built (i.e. they are temporary!).
Isn't this just a distraction to get a pipeline built that will push sand crude to the refineries and finished product back to Canada? Meanwhile all the profits go to Koch and all the costs to clean up get stuck on our children, along with the sand crude leaks.
No they can't refine it ... and the COCK Brothers get it as a significant discount
benefit to american people -- couple low income slobs will get a job
benefits to the billionaire Cock Brothers and kick backs to their friend
but yea yea ... we have to cheer on the rich to get richer.... C'mon and cheer
Actually, Canada is working on an alternate route eastward to St John, New Brunswick. There is a large refinery already operating there as well as a year round, deepwater seaport close to Europe and US east coast. Substantial parts of the route already exist.
"and environmentalists who say it would increase carbon emissions linked to climate change."
Yes, of course. That makes perfect sense, because if the pipeline doesn't get build that oil will never find its way to market. Unless it goes by rail to Western Canada and then straight to China. Because, after all, transporting oil by rail is much safer than by pipeline.
What a bunch of morons. El Presidente being chief moron.
"well that escalated quickly." Obama will sign it into being.
This...and all his other actions...make perfect sense if one works from the logical assumption that the POTUS actually hates America.
does any of this shit matter?
Obama was just trumpeting his CO2 reduction agreement with China where the US promises to reduce carbon emissions by 26-28% by 2025 and China agrees to continue increasing carbon emissions during the same period.
So I think Obama is likely to veto. But he might sign the bill and then use some kind of executive order to prevent the pipeline from actually being built.
God, what a relief. ZH has finally decided to insource their trolls back to the United States. The new batch all seem to be, let me think...
What was the term the Democratic Party used in this year's outreach efforts? I think it was "Basement Grads".
Yeah, that's it. Hired up a mess of basement grads to replace the Emperor Vladimir I Troll Guards Brigade.
This probably explains the drop in the US unemployment rate.
You call that a comment?
HUMBUG
I prefer to think of it as an observation.
Here's another one. On subjects such as these, it's easy to laugh at the opinions of those who have never walked the brass alley.
Actually, it's quite a lovely observation. But don't you think it would be more suitable for Fox News' daycare children?
I never have walked the brass alley, but if you could show me a few steps, I might recognize it from Dancing with the Stars. :)
Of course Obama will veto the pipeline
You want to know why?
Because there isn't as much oil there as the "energy independence " boys spun the propaganda for the last 10 years . 8000 wells in the Bakken producing 200 barrels a day. Then transporting that meagre production from 8000 different wells to the head of the pipeline. Then in 5 or 6 years the wells dry up and start producing a couple of six packs a day.
Sure Congress will spend all that dough on a pipeline. Everything else they've done was fucked.
Oh what a tangled web we weave.....
Yep, and at 70 dollars a barrel...
Is anyone really going to build this thing at current prices? When oil was at 130+, maybe it made sense. But at today's prices, and no 'growth spurt' on the horizon, is this even worth it? Or will it turn into a big, overly-expensive-make work' project so a few Congressmen can say "We created jobs!"?
Then what? You have a new pipeline, but no world demand for what's flowing through it. Meanwhile, the thing's built, the jobs are over...what now?
Yep and most of the easy to get at oil 'wells' have been drilled by now leaving the hard to get at, more expensive costing wells to drill and produce oil to be transported after the pipeline is built.
If the US/Saudi plot to drive the price of a barrel of oil down to the price of a pack of cigs is successful, instead of selling barrels of oil, shale producers will be waering those barrels with suspenders to keep them up.
KEYSTONE HAS BEEN OPERATIONAL DOWN TO KUSHING SINCE 2010
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keystone_Pipeline
the leg through Montana is what's left - the longer route to Kushing adds cost and keeps Buffet's choo choo trains running - notice Warren's big buy in trains in 2009 - say thank your barry (of course barry got his kickback too).
In conclusion, the keystone narrative is the biggest pile of bullshit going - it's operational as this is being typed.
Republicon's Six Year Sleep
Keystone XL Pipeline
Dirty Hairy's trash can
too
DOA
OBOLA's trash can
" nothing changes but the debt "
I look forward to all of the Reps and senators that promoted supported and followed Obama the past 6 years losing their jobs. It is going to happen. 2 weeks ago i wasn't so sure. I am now.