Senate Republicans are pushing legislation that would force the Obama administration to decide whether to permit the controversial Keystone XL pipeline within two months — bucking the 14-month timeline the White House has planned.
The measure, which will be formally unveiled Wednesday, responds to the State Department’s Nov. 10 decision to delay a final verdict on whether the $7 billion project is in the national interest until early 2013. The State Department said it would take that long to conduct an environmental analysis of an alternative route for the pipeline to navigate away from environmentally sensitive areas in Nebraska.
But six Senate Republicans, led by Dick Lugar of Indiana and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell. R-Ky., are insisting on a much quicker decision.
If passed, their bill would require the State Department to issue a permit for TransCanada Corp.’s proposed 1,700-mile pipeline within 60 days, unless the president publicly determines it is not in the national interest.
According to a draft of the legislation, the measure also aims to protect the planned rerouting of the project through Nebraska’s Sand Hills, by requiring the president to approve the state’s proposed alternative path, even once a permit has been issued.
The measure faces long odds in the Democratically controlled Senate, especially since it would put President Barack Obama in the political hot seat on the eve of next year’s election, forced to decide between environmentalists who oppose the project and some labor unions that say it would create much-needed jobs.
Critics of the State Department’s delay — including industry officials and their allies in Congress — said the move was politically motivated. They note that the pipeline has been under U.S. government review for three years — far longer than any similar projects.
But Keystone XL opponents say that the State Department’s review has been biased in favor of the project. They point to the State Department’s decision to hire Cardno Entrix to do an environmental assessment of the pipeline, even though the company has worked for TransCanada.
GOP lawmakers in the House, including Rep. Lee Terry of Nebraska, are considering similar legislation to force a swift pipeline decision, but that effort is moving on a slower track. A House Energy and Commerce subcommittee is holding a hearing on the pipeline proposal Friday.
In addition to McConnell and Lugar, the top Republican on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, the Senate legislation is backed by GOP Sens. John Hoeven of North Dakota, David Vitter of Louisiana, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Mike Johanns of Nebraska.
Senate bill to force permit decision on Keystone XL pipeline
…The measure faces long odds in the Democratically controlled Senate, especially since it would put President Barack Obama in the political hot seat on the eve of next year’s election, forced to decide between environmentalists who oppose the project and some labor unions that say it would create much-needed jobs….
Wow, worried that the President might have to make a decision–another in a long line of politicians–from both sides–putting their re-elections ahead of the country.
Wait till next Nov. when Dems control both houses then make an informed decision.
This WILL create thousands of jobs and this Obama remains clueless and continues to blame Bush instead of doing something about the jobs problem in America. Time and time again, this Obama remains everything against helping American’s and improving America’s economy. Will this Obama ever apologize to us!? Never! He’s too busy apologizing to his peaceful head sawing off Muslim buddies!
It’s a shame that the Repulican party, aka American Petroleum Institute lackies, doesn’t have some interest in getting this project done in an enviornmentally responsible manner instead of just pushing to get it done what ever the potential cost to the environment. They don’t seem to ever understand that all of us, including them, share one environment. Trashing it is not the way to go.
Pipelines are such a new and dangerous concept according to the snail darter brained crowd, you’d never know they’ve been around for over 100 years, but this one is the one to destroy all life as we know it.
I will be glad to stop eating your Spotted Owls if you enviro wackjobs stop using our O/G.
It is ridiculous that obummer has put this off- typical of his coward self. It is obvious that the only thing this moron is concerned with is his own ego.
I’m a Democrat and I support the building the pipeline. There are thousands and thousands of miles of pipelines in all sort of challenging and environmentally sensitive environments with very few reportable failures. Have YOU stopped flying because of an airplane crash? Do the protesters walk or ride their bicycles to these pipeline protests?
Canada is one of the very few countries that actually still tolerates us. We can use the secure fuel supply for our domestic needs and if we don’t step up, you can bet that Canada will find other markets for their oil.
Do you really want to continue to rely on the middle east and places like Venezuela for our oil? Let’s get a little bit real here.