Posted on 05/01/2014 11:04:47 AM PDT by Second Amendment First
Keystone XL supporters on Thursday introduced legislation they said was backed by 56 senators that would immediately greenlight the controversial oil pipeline.
"I have 56 hard yeses," Sen. John Hoeven (R-N.D.), who introduced the bill with Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-La.), told reporters Thursday.
"Beyond that I've got six or seven maybes. Our challenge is going to be to get to 60 votes," he said.
Eleven Democrats are among the 56 senators backing the bill, which would immediately give pipeline developer TransCanada the green light on a permit to begin construction of Keystone XL, according to a release from Landrieu's office.
Hoeven said talks are still in the works with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) to get the bill to the floor.
Earlier this week, Reid said he wanted to bring an energy efficiency bill to the floor, but Republicans are trying to have a larger debate on energy issues.
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.) said Republicans aren't interested in a nonbinding sense-of-the-Senate vote on Keystone, which would not have any legal effect. The Senate voted on a similar nonbinding measure last year.
Hoeven said the vote on the Keystone bill won't be tossed aside.
"This is not something that is going to be delayed," Hoeven said. "It either has to be a part of the energy efficiency bill, or immediately following it."
There are also disagreements over whether a vote on Keystone as an amendment to the energy efficiency bill would be sufficient.
Landrieu says she wants a vote on stand-alone legislation, and seemed adamant that anything else was out of the question on Thursday.
"The decision has already been made — we are moving forward on a vote on Keystone, and we are going to move forward on the energy efficiency bill," Landrieu said.
The bill will likely get severe pushback from the White House, Hoeven said.
“That is exactly what happened before,” he said. “At that time, we had more than 60 votes. By the time they were done, they actually pushed us down below 60. I don’t know if they’ve started that effort yet.”
Sens. Heidi Heitkamp (N.D.), Kay Hagan (N.C.), Mark Pryor (Ark.), Claire McCaskill (Mo.), Jon Tester (Mont.), Mark Warner (Va.), Mark Begich (Alaska), Joe Manchin (W.Va.), Joe Donnelly (Ind.) and John Walsh (Mont.) are the 10 other Democrats backing the bill with Landrieu.
Drill now...drill everywhere!!!
Wow, can you imagine if enough Senate Democrats revolt and force this issue?
We’ll see.
Officially, the pipeline is still under review. This pipeline has been under consideration for over five years now. We won World War II in less time than we have been studying this project. How much more information does the administration need to make the call, one way or another?
If Obama wants to pander to his enviro-extreme base and reject it, then go ahead and do it. Make a decision. I think this continues Obama’s pattern of voting present, of avoiding making decisions.
If Stupid Harry blocks it, I sure hope the people of Nevada take notice every time they fill up their cars.
I should be shocked there are 44 Senators who are not solidly behind this.
But I’m not.
FMCDH(BITS)
Pubbies doing all they can to save Landrieux by making it look like she’s in the forefront of the pipeline, while ignoring all her votes supporting Bam.
Hahahaha!...Right.
FMCDH(BITS)
This was a set-up. This was why Obama delayed the pipeline- along with getting econut campaign donations.
It's a 'two-fer'.
Tom Steyer is an idiot. He’s gonna hand his billions over to Democrats and they’re gonna throw him under the bus ten minutes after that election is over.
I have heard (I think Jamie Dupree) that is a non binding resolution to help 11 Dem incumbents try to show they support the pipeline but it is not in the form of “a Bill”. I hope this is wrong but I don’t trust what this seems to say. Reid would never rebuke obama.Never
I am inclined to agree with your analysis.
Harry will start writing checks with his mouth that hopefully his wrinkly old ass can't cash.
This helps the red state rats. They vote yes and Barry vetoes.
Well, this one is about transport, but your meaning is well-taken. ;)
Every one in a right-leaning state, with HUGE re-election worries with ObamaCare hanging around their necks.
Exactly. I know Donnelly (IN) has been under pressure ever since he voted YES for Obummercare.
Punch holes in the ground everywhere you can.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.