Veto looms for U.S. Congress’s push to approve Keystone

[n2doc]

Bipartisan efforts to force U.S. President Barack Obama to approve the controversial Keystone XL pipeline face a near-certain veto, the White House signalled Thursday, setting the stage for more drama and delay over the plan to funnel Alberta crude across the United States to Gulf refineries.

As Congress readied bills demanding passage of the long-delayed (and now far-more-expensive) $8-billion pipeline with the President away in Asia, a confrontation loomed.

Mr. Obama “has taken a dim view of these kinds of legislative proposals in the past,” Josh Earnest, the White House spokesman said in Naypyitaw, capital of Myanmar. “Our dim view of these kinds of proposals has not changed,” he said, making clear a veto was probable. “The President’s senior advisers at the White House have recommended that he veto legislation like that,” Mr. Earnest added, referring to past congressional maneuvering to take the decision out of the President’s hands. “That has continued to be our position.”

The new flurry of Keystone XL activity on Capitol Hill comes as Democrat Senator Mary Landrieu, who is backing a Senate bill on the pipeline, makes a last-ditch effort to win her seat in a Louisiana runoff scheduled for Dec. 6. Her Republican opponent, Bill Cassidy, currently sitting in the House of Representatives, has introduced nearly identical legislation in the lower house.

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http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/veto-looms-for-us-congresss-push-to-approve-keystone/article21569991/

[vi5]

1. Right. Sure it does.

We'll see, won't we.

[n2doc]

2. My guess is congress passes it with veto-proof majority

So it won't matter.

[vi5]

4. More good cop/bad cop.

First Obama vs. Wheeler on Net Neutrality.
Now Obama vs. the Senate on Keystone.

It all works out so well for us.

[pampango]

7. As long as Obama is the good cop in this case. I would prefer both be good cops, but I'll settle

for the president.

As you posted above, we will see. If he thought it was a good idea (economically, politically, environmentally) he should have supported it earlier and it would already be under construction. If he does not really like it, I don't see what incentive he has now to avoid a veto.

[yeoman6987]

5. I really hate the idea that the Presidents first VETO

Is going to come from the Democratic Senate. Why must Reid do this now? At least in January it will be a VETO on the Republican Senate even if the Senate will have votes to override the VETO. Just sinks in my opinion.

[vi5]

8. You're assuming if it passes, that he will veto it.

I don't think he will. Especially if he can call it "bipartisan". There's nothing he loves more than shoring up those "bipartisan" bonafides and getting the Chuck Todds and David Brooks of the world all googly eyed and tingly.

[spanone]

3. k&r...

[onecaliberal]

6. It's time to bid landrieu

Farewell. No one is worth the environmental disaster that would surely spoil the land and water it sits upon. Especially not landrieu.

[Spazito]

9. The Nebraska case against the path of the Keystone pipeline...

has yet to be decided, the ruling might well not come down until the end of the year. President Obama could just leave the bill unsigned, known as a pocket veto, depending on timing and when Congress adjourns in December. I believe the calendar has this adjournment scheduled for December 15 at this time.

If Congress adjourns before a bill remains unsigned by the President over 10 days, the bill fails.