Keystone Pipeline Hits Senate Snag over Amendments

Legislation to approve the Keystone XL oil pipeline stalled in the U.S. Senate on Jan. 26 as Democrats raised objections about the number of amendments they’ve been allowed to offer.

The Senate, by a 53-39 vote with 60 required, refused to advance the Keystone measure, yet Majority Leader Mitch McConnell signaled before Monday’s vote that he will press ahead with the legislation.

“It’s about time to bring the Keystone debate to a positive conclusion, and we’ll do that soon,” McConnell said. He said Republican leaders had “heard rumors that some in the Democratic leadership are pressuring rank-and-file Democrats,” including some co-sponsors, to block the measure.

Two weeks earlier, enough Democrats joined the majority Republicans to move the bill forward. A second procedural vote Monday also failed 53-39 with 60 votes required.

Backers of the pipeline say it will provide jobs and promote U.S. energy independence. Opponents say the project will create few permanent jobs, won’t boost domestic energy security and would pose environmental hazards.

Sen. Richard Durbin of Illinois, the chamber’s second-ranking Democrat, said he told McConnell before the vote that Democrats want to “work together on a bipartisan basis.” Democrats have accused the majority leader of backing off his promise to allow both parties a chance to offer wide-ranging amendments to the bill.

“Let’s do this in a conscientious, good-faith effort to complete this bill, and I think we can achieve it,” Durbin said he told McConnell.

The project would connect to an existing pipeline network, linking oil sands in Alberta, Canada, with U.S. Gulf Coast refineries.

Republicans control the Senate 54-46. Because six Democrats have signed on as sponsors of the Keystone bill, the Senate most likely will have enough votes to pass the bill, though not the two-thirds vote required to override a veto from President Obama.

Republicans promised an open & fair debate process. That lasted about a week #KXL http://t.co/8ywduLuUvj http://t.co/96wERSuarN — Ron Wyden (@RonWyden) January 26, 2015