As Keystone vote approaches, Republicans pressure Obama for support

As the Senate prepares to vote on a bill to fast track construction of the Keystone XL pipeline, Republicans can sense victory. Not only do they believe there will be 60 votes in favor of the legislation, but they are presenting the bill's passage as a choice for the president.

"It's a win-win for the American people. The Senate Democrats and the president, all eyes around American are going to be on them in the next few days," said Sen. John Thune, R-South Dakota, at a press conference for the Senate GOP leadership Tuesday. "The president will then have to make a choice as well, whether he wants to sign into law that will create a lot of jobs for people across this country or whether or not he wants to listen to the extreme voices in his own party and go against something the American people are for."

Sen. Pat Roberts, R-Kansas, said the president, "owes the American people an answer as to whether he supports this project or not."

The vote, scheduled for Tuesday evening, is likely to be close. The bill's cosponsors, Sens. Mary Landrieu, D-Louisiana, and John Hoeven, R-South Dakota, sounded hopeful they'll have the votes but it's far from certain.

"I brought this bill to the floor knowing in my heart that we have 60 votes. I sure hope we've got the courage that supports that," Landrieu said.

Last week, the House passed its version of the bill to expedite construction of the oil pipeline by a margin of 252 to 161. They named their version the "Bill Cassidy Keystone Solution," a nod to Rep. Bill Cassidy, who is trying to unseat Landrieu in a runoff election for the Louisiana Senate seat scheduled for December 6.

Landrieu has pushed hard for the bill in recent days. The decision by Senate Democratic leaders to allow a vote on the pipeline was largely seen as a move to help her win her re-election in the runoff, where polls show her trailing.

"What is everybody upset about? We've been building pipelines in this country for a long, long time and we need to build this one," Landrieu said on the Senate floor. "This is about energy independence. It's about jobs. That's why I'm here. This is what the people want."

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But many Democrats are unhappy about the vote.

"It's just plain dangerous because it will transport the dirtiest oil on the planet. Forcing the approval of the Keystone [pipeline] when so many concerns remain does not allow for the kind of review that our affected communities deserve," said Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-California, Tuesday. "To stand here and say this is the absolute job producer is phony. It is phony baloney."

She warned that, "To go blindly down this path is a huge mistake."

Some Democrats who have indicated they are "yes" votes found themselves the subject of protests by climate groups Tuesday afternoon. They carried banners to the offices of Sens. Tom Carper, D-Delaware, and Michael Bennet, D-Colorado, and accused the two senators of voting like climate change deniers.

The proposal passed by the House Friday says that TransCanada can construct and operate the pipeline. Crude oil harvested from Canadian tar sands would be carried by the pipeline to oil refineries along the U.S. Gulf Coast.

The project has been delayed for several years by the State Department's environmental review process. Its analysis, released in January, found the project would pose no "significant" environmental danger. In April, however, Mr. Obama's administration indefinitely extended the amount of time agencies have to review the project, citing continued legal wrangling over the pipeline's route through Nebraska.

If signed into law, the bill passed by the House would effectively end the debate over the project's environmental impact. It would recognize the State Department's analysis as the final verdict on the matter and clear the way for construction to begin.

With an eye to ongoing litigation in Nebraska, the bill does provide some flexibility on the final route, directing TransCanada to respect "any subsequent revision to the pipeline route" enacted by the state of Nebraska.

White House spokesman Joshua Earnest told reporters Tuesday that the president does not support the legislation because he believes the pipeline's future should be decided by the agency review process. But he has not yet issued a veto threat.

House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, warned such a move would be an insult to the American people.

"Vetoing an overwhelmingly popular bill would be a clear indication that he doesn't care about the American people's priorities. It would be equivalent of calling the American people stupid," Boehner said.

If the Senate bill passes, the House version will go to Mr. Obama's desk for his signature.