Senate defeats Keystone XL
brianlux
Moving through All Kinds of Terrain. Posts: 42,428
I know, some break, huh? Well, my camping trip's been rained out but I'm happy to be hear long enough to post this. Does this close this chapter? I doubt it. But for now... good news!!
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/03/0 ... 33108.html
WASHINGTON -- The Senate on Thursday narrowly rejected a GOP provision to fast-track the construction of the Keystone XL crude oil pipeline. The amendment, brought to the floor as part of a larger effort to break a Republican filibuster on the transportation bill, required 60 votes for passage. The vote was 56 to 42.
"Today's vote was a temporary victory and there's no guarantee that it holds for the long run," said Bill McKibben, the founder of 350.org who has led protests against the pipeline since August. "But given that this thing was a 'no brainer' a year ago, it's pretty remarkable that people power was able to keep working, even in the oil-soaked Senate. We're grateful to the administration for denying the permit and for Senate leadership for holding the line."
First introduced by Sen. John Hoeven (R-N.D), the amendment would have stripped the State Department of its authority to approve the pipeline, handing that power instead to Congress.
Until recently, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) repeatedly vowed not to consider it as part of the transportation bill unless the transportation bill also included provisions promising the oil, once refined, would be kept in the U.S. The latter amendment, introduced by Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) was defeated on Thursday on Republican opposition. The vote was 34-64.
Eleven Democrats bucked President Barack Obama by voting in favor of the amendment. They include Sens. Max Baucus (D-Mont.), Mark Begich (D-Alaska), Kay Hagan (D-N.C.), Mary Landrieu (D-La.), Joe Manchin (D-W. Va.), Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.) Mark Pryor (Ark.), Jon Tester (D-Mont.), Jim Webb (D-Va.), Robert Casey (D-Pa.) and Kent Conrad (D-N.D).
"We had 11 Democrats support our legislation," said Hoeven, noting that two Republicans missed the vote, and that Obama lobbied Democrats to stay with him. "We think that number is going to continue to grow."
House Majority Leader John Boehner at a press conference Thursday afternoon accused the president of "personally lobbying" against the construction of the pipeline.
"I think the White House owes the American people an explanation," he said. "The president said this week that he wants to see lower prices at the pump - at least in an election year. But his own policies are making matters worse and driving up the cost of energy. But by 'personally lobbying' against the Keystone pipeline, it means the president of the United States is lobbying for sending North American energy to China, and lobbying against American jobs."
Republicans have emphasized that the pipeline, which would stretch 1,700 miles from tar sands in Canada to oil refineries along the Gulf Coast, would help improve energy security by making the U.S. less reliant on foreign oil. "This is also about national security," said Hoeven in a statement Thursday on the House floor. Opponents have countered citing the potential for spills as well as damages incurred to the global environment.
Obama rejected a permit for the controversial pipeline earlier this year, putting the $7 billion project on hold pending further environmental review.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/03/0 ... 33108.html
WASHINGTON -- The Senate on Thursday narrowly rejected a GOP provision to fast-track the construction of the Keystone XL crude oil pipeline. The amendment, brought to the floor as part of a larger effort to break a Republican filibuster on the transportation bill, required 60 votes for passage. The vote was 56 to 42.
"Today's vote was a temporary victory and there's no guarantee that it holds for the long run," said Bill McKibben, the founder of 350.org who has led protests against the pipeline since August. "But given that this thing was a 'no brainer' a year ago, it's pretty remarkable that people power was able to keep working, even in the oil-soaked Senate. We're grateful to the administration for denying the permit and for Senate leadership for holding the line."
First introduced by Sen. John Hoeven (R-N.D), the amendment would have stripped the State Department of its authority to approve the pipeline, handing that power instead to Congress.
Until recently, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) repeatedly vowed not to consider it as part of the transportation bill unless the transportation bill also included provisions promising the oil, once refined, would be kept in the U.S. The latter amendment, introduced by Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) was defeated on Thursday on Republican opposition. The vote was 34-64.
Eleven Democrats bucked President Barack Obama by voting in favor of the amendment. They include Sens. Max Baucus (D-Mont.), Mark Begich (D-Alaska), Kay Hagan (D-N.C.), Mary Landrieu (D-La.), Joe Manchin (D-W. Va.), Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.) Mark Pryor (Ark.), Jon Tester (D-Mont.), Jim Webb (D-Va.), Robert Casey (D-Pa.) and Kent Conrad (D-N.D).
"We had 11 Democrats support our legislation," said Hoeven, noting that two Republicans missed the vote, and that Obama lobbied Democrats to stay with him. "We think that number is going to continue to grow."
House Majority Leader John Boehner at a press conference Thursday afternoon accused the president of "personally lobbying" against the construction of the pipeline.
"I think the White House owes the American people an explanation," he said. "The president said this week that he wants to see lower prices at the pump - at least in an election year. But his own policies are making matters worse and driving up the cost of energy. But by 'personally lobbying' against the Keystone pipeline, it means the president of the United States is lobbying for sending North American energy to China, and lobbying against American jobs."
Republicans have emphasized that the pipeline, which would stretch 1,700 miles from tar sands in Canada to oil refineries along the Gulf Coast, would help improve energy security by making the U.S. less reliant on foreign oil. "This is also about national security," said Hoeven in a statement Thursday on the House floor. Opponents have countered citing the potential for spills as well as damages incurred to the global environment.
Obama rejected a permit for the controversial pipeline earlier this year, putting the $7 billion project on hold pending further environmental review.
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i hope no one was holding their breath thinking this was really not gonna happen. it seems obama is pretty well committed to making this happen
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162- ... bama-says/
(CBS News) Amid criticism he isn't doing enough to beat back rising gas prices, President Obama Thursday said he is calling on his administration "to cut through red tape, break through bureaucratic hurdles," and make the Southern leg of the controversial Keystone pipeline "a priority."
"Producing more oil and gas here at home has been, and will continue to be, a critical part of our all-of-the-above strategy," Mr. Obama said from Cushing, Oklahoma, the site where the Southern portion of the pipeline will begin construction.
Mr. Obama's stop in Cushing was part of a four-state, two-day tour in which the president touted his energy policies. Standing next to the giant TransCanada pipes that will make up the Southern leg of the Keystone pipeline, Mr. Obama sought to remind voters that he's not opposed to domestic oil drilling.
In fact, "we're drilling all over the place right now," the president said, citing his administration's directive to open up millions of acres for oil and gas exploration in 23 states. Under his watch, Mr. Obama said, the number of operating oil rigs has reached a record high, he said, and the U.S. has added enough new oil and gas pipeline to "circle the Earth and then some."
The Southern leg of the Keystone pipeline should be a priority, he said, to free up the "bottleneck" of oil heading to refineries. "If we could, it would help us increase our oil supplies at a time where we need as much as possible," he said.
Cushing is a major trading hub for crude oil, but the industry says a bottleneck in pipeline there has backed up its use. TransCanada Corporation plans to lay pipe through Cushing as part of its Keystone project. The Keystone pipeline is ultimately planned to link the tar sands fields of northern Alberta to oil refineries on the Texas Gulf Coast.
TransCanada announced last month it will proceed with the construction of pipeline from Cushing to the U.S. Gulf Coast -- a portion of the Keystone project that the company says has its own independent value. In the meantime, the company is waiting for executive approval for the Northern portion.
Mr. Obama rejected an attempt from Congress late last year to expedite the construction of the full pipeline, citing the need for more time to study the environmental and safety risks.
The president acknowledged today the issue has "generated a lot of controversy and a lot of politics," but he attributed to the controversy specifically to concerns about its original route through a critical Nebraska aquifer.
"Nebraskans of all political stripes, including the Republican governor there, raised some concerns about the wisdom of that route," he said. While TransCanada has said it will re-route the pipeline, Mr. Obama maintained, "The Northern portion of [the pipeline], we're going to have to review appropriately to protect the health and safety of the American people."
Republicans have lambasted the president for holding up the project and are citing a new Gallup poll showing public support for the pipeline.
"People recognize his blocking of the Keystone pipeline is hurting our gas prices, it is making us more dependent on foreign energy," Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., said Thursday.
The Associated Press this week produced a statistical analysis of 36 years of monthly, inflation-adjusted gasoline prices and U.S. domestic oil production, showing no statistical correlation between how much oil comes out of U.S. wells and the price at the pump.
Anyone who says drilling alone will bring down gas prices, Mr. Obama said today, is either "not paying attention" or "not playing it straight."
Mr. Obama maintained his commitment to clean energy development, pointing out that the production of wind power has nearly tripled in Oklahoma over the past three years.
what are you but my reflection? who am i to judge or strike you down?
"I will promise you this, that if we have not gotten our troops out by the time I am president, it is the first thing I will do. I will get our troops home. We will bring an end to this war. You can take that to the bank." - Barack Obama
when you told me 'if you can't beat 'em, join 'em'
i was thinkin 'death before dishonor'
http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=7402883n
what are you but my reflection? who am i to judge or strike you down?
"I will promise you this, that if we have not gotten our troops out by the time I am president, it is the first thing I will do. I will get our troops home. We will bring an end to this war. You can take that to the bank." - Barack Obama
when you told me 'if you can't beat 'em, join 'em'
i was thinkin 'death before dishonor'
Considering the GOP is going to use high gas prices as an attack point, this decision was a no-brainer.
We all knew it was pretty much temporary.
Yeah, production is booming. Booming for outsourcing sales. Supply here in our country is low but since we're making money off of selling all the oil we're mining, why not screw ourselves? That's what this is all about. What a joke.