It would appear the first big test for President Obama's 'veto' pen will be no lesser issue than the Keystone Pipeline. Reuters reports [7] that Republicans will quickly introduce stand-alone legislation in the first quarter of 2015 that would approve the Keystone XL crude oil pipeline from Canada, Republican Senator John Hoeven said in an interview. "It's really a good chance to see if the president's willing to work with us," Hoeven said, suggesting they would pressure Obama to act one way or another by attaching the bill to some must-pass legislation leaving Obama's only option but to fold or shut down the government. As Reince Priebus exclaimed, "he's going to be boxed in."
- MCCONNELL SAYS KEYSTONE EMPLOYMENT FIGURES ARE 'STUNNING'
Republicans will quickly introduce stand-alone legislation in the first quarter of 2015 that would approve the Keystone XL crude oil pipeline from Canada, Republican Senator John Hoeven said in an interview.
"I think Keystone will be one of the first bills we'll be able to put up in the new Congress," said Hoeven, from the oil-rich state of North Dakota.
"I've got a bill right now that's got about 56 cosponsors. And with the election results, we'll have over 60 who clearly support the legislation," he said.
"It's really a good chance to see if the president's willing to work with us," Hoeven said. If President Barack Obama vetoes the bill, Republicans would seek to attach it to must-pass legislation on other energy or appropriations issues, Hoeven said.
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The background on Keystone (via FOX [8])
The TransCanada-built pipeline, which would cross over an aquifer in Nebraska, has been held up for six years by environmental and even diplomatic concerns. President Obama, under pressure from environmental groups, has repeatedly ordered reviews by the State Department.
Proponents say the alternative of transporting the oil south by rail is more of an environmental risk, and say the Phase IV expansion would bring more than 800,000 barrels of oil per day to U.S. refineries from Canada and the Bakken region. The American Petroleum Institute claims a fully built pipeline could support 42,000 jobs and as many as 500,000 additional jobs in the U.S. by 2035.
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“I actually think the president will sign the bill on the Keystone pipeline because I think the pressure — he’s going to be boxed in on that, and I think it’s going to happen,” Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus said Tuesday.
