Posted on 11/05/2014 6:12:37 AM PST by maggief
Republican gains in the Senate have given Keystone XL supporters a filibuster-proof majority to pass a bill approving construction of the controversial pipeline.
Before Tuesday’s election, supporters had 57 votes in the Senate in support of Keystone, including a dozen Democrats. After Republicans picked up seven Senate seats (and counting) in Tuesday's election, the vote count for Keystone had ballooned to 61.
GOP Sen.-elects Mike Rounds (S.D.), Shelley Moore Capito (W.Va.) Cory Garnder (Colo.) and Joni Ernst (Iowa) are all Keystone backers. "The election of several pro-Keystone Senators puts the passage of Keystone that much closer and shows energy projects like Keystone is a priority for our country," Ryan Bernstein, Sen. John Hoeven's (R-N.D.) chief of staff, told The Hill on Wednesday.
"We will be working with Senator [Mitch] McConnell (R-Ky.) to get a vote on the floor shortly after the new Congress is seated," Bernstein added.
A Republican Senate could pass a clean Keystone bill outright, or tether approval of the oil sands pipeline to a must-pass spending bill or broader energy package. The latter would make it harder for President Obama to veto the pipeline.
I’d love to see Democrats forced to choose between jobs and the environmental Left.
Do. Talk not.
http://www.politico.com/story/2014/11/keystone-pipeline-2014-elections-112567.html#ixzz3IChDpck2
“I think first order of business is to pass it out of House, Senate, and then finally force the president to make a decision on it,” a GOP aide said Tuesday night, adding that “the contrast will be crystal clear” if Obama rejects a pipeline that counts support from more than 6 in 10 Americans in public polls.
“Only then do I think we would rework strategy to secure veto-proof,” the Republican aide said.
Force Obola to veto it.
There’s no doubt in my mind that the fraud-in-chief will veto it.
No mention of Ben Sasse, Tea Party Conservative, whose state the Keystone actually goes through.
And at EVERY opportunity, including Obamacare repeal.
This can be no worse than House bills piling up on Harry Reid's desk for 6 years ...
YES!
“We will be working with Senator [Mitch] McConnell (R-Ky.) to get a vote on the floor shortly after the new Congress is seated,” Bernstein added.
AFTER seated??? Does Nov 5-Jan 31 mean anything? That will be the time 0 is planning to do stuff to create scenarios to NOT SEAT these folks.
Is the Keystone pipeline still viable in light of the Trans Canada pipeline?
Keystone should be the first bill out of the new Congress. Obama will of course veto it, but I think there are enough Democrats who will vote for it to override the veto.
“Keystone should be the first bill out of the new Congress. “
Absolutely!
Doesn't it require 67 votes to override a veto?
Our Saudi “friends” (/s) no doubt forced the price of oil down just in time to give Obama cover for his veto.
This is a done deal, no doubt this will pass both houses of congress.... Whether Obama vetos it or not is the question.
Obamacare repeal? May get a vote, if it does will be vetoed and can’t override so will be symbolic more than anything.
Personally if the Republicans are serious about showing limited government (not saying they are, but if they want an easy one) and not for special interests.....
I’d pass a repeal of the Incandescent light bulb ban!!!!!!!!!
That’s an easy one, and a very symbolic one... not holding my breath on it happening since Many R’s voted for the damned thing in the first place.
If they pass it, they better include language to stop all the left wing lawsuits that will be filed.
Keystone would have been able to override a veto long ago, Reid made sure it never saw the Senate floor.
The days of the do nothing Senate are over.
Just 60.
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