Senate vote to override Obama’s Keystone XL veto falls 5 votes short

The US Senate’s vote to override President Barack Obama’s veto of legislation authorizing construction of the proposed Keystone XL (KXL) crude oil pipeline fell 5 votes short of the necessary two-thirds majority (OGJ Online, Feb. 25, 2015). Sixty-two senators—including 6 Democrats—voted in the affirmative, while 37 voted no.

Sen. John Hoeven (R-ND), S. 1’s sponsor, said he and other senators who support TransCanada Corp.’s proposed 1,179-mile pipeline from Hardisty, Alta., to Steele City, Neb., would continue to press for approval by attaching a similar measure to another must-pass bill “such as an energy, transportation, or appropriations bill.”

The Mar. 4 vote does not end the fight for the project’s approval, Sen. David Vitter (R-La.) said afterward. “Keystone obviously has wide bipartisan support across the country, yet President Obama and Senate Democrats have put their political agenda ahead of bipartisan compromise, job creation, and energy independence out of sheer political spite,” he said.

Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.), the Environment and Public Works Committee’s ranking minority member, said, “I’m glad the Republican leadership failed to override President Obama’s veto of the Keystone XL pipeline, which does nothing for Americans and is a gift for Canadian big oil interests. It is time Republicans brought up legislation that will help Americans, like a highway bill or an equal pay for equal work bill.”

American Petroleum Institute Pres. Jack N. Gerard said the Senate’s attempt to override Obama’s veto proved Washington is working for the people. “That’s why Democrats and Republicans came together on this bill and that is why there are efforts to override the president’s veto.

“While we urge Congress to continue to fight for KXL, there should be no need for congressional action if the president would make a final judgment on Keystone,” Gerard said. “The president has always had the authority on this and he can approve this pipeline today.”

Contact Nick Snow at [email protected].