[rockinqsranch]

OK the pipeline is important, but why is it prioritized over the equivalent mileage of say SOUTHERN BORDER?

WHY isn’t that border the first thing on the Republican agenda, OR perhaps nuking Obamacare. WHY the pipeline first?

[gleeaikin]

Simple answer: Koch Brothers want pipelines, Warren Buffet wants railroads. Do the Koch Brothers care about the border if it helps them get cheap labor? How does Big Pharma feel about millions of new paying customers?

[Dave W]

Because the pipeline is an easy vote. It's bipartisan since a number of democrats support the pipeline, too. The republicans want a quick and decisive vote that shows they can get something done since the democratic senate hasn't allowed a vote on this issue in 6 years.

It's good strategy being executed well.

[Spktyr]

Pipeline is a ‘freebie’. No Federal dollars going into it, so they don’t have to take it away from entitlements. Also, it’s a bipartisan issue - most Dems who aren’t in the radical green category want it, even the unions want it.