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Saturday, February 14, 2015

Keystone XL Bill Heads to Obama as Practical Payoffs Wane

Congressional Republicans achieved an elusive legislative goal Wednesday, sending a bill to approve the Keystone XL pipeline to President Barack Obama.

Yet after three years of effort, the victory is somewhat hollow as falling oil prices and an improving job market conspire to weaken any practical or political payoffs.

The U.S. House passed the measure 270-152, with 29 Democrats joining all but one Republican to support the bill. Obama has vowed to veto the measure and Wednesday’s vote was short of the two-thirds super majority needed to override the president’s rejection. The Senate passed the bill last month.

Obama said he opposes the bill because it would circumvent his administration’s review of the $8 billion pipeline.

“This allegedly important policy issue has become almost nothing but politics, save for those who build and operate it, on both sides,” said Burdett Loomis, a political science professor at the University of Kansas who tracks energy issues. “It’s policy significance comes close to nil, especially in our current oil environment.”

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3 comments:

Anonymous said...

When our failing foreign policy leads to ISIS control of the Middle East's oil, this pipeline will be our country's greatest asset. This commentary is part of the liberal agenda to making Republican efforts seem pointless. Most Americans equate this pipeline with gasoline prices and they are on the rise again. We need to step up efforts to remind our elected representatives that we want the independence from foreign oil this pipeline offers.

Anonymous said...

Haven't you figured all this crap out yet?
First , Obama and his muslim friends have keep production up to lower the prices.
Second , the pipeline would do the same and the muslims would not get all that $$$$ at high prices.
Third , we would be more independent as far as oil , that's a No-No for muslims.
Forth , when the bill is vetoed , the prices will increase after he is finished playing his golf.

Anonymous said...

620 it's much more fun to debate when you actually stick to facts