Senate Gone Wild: Vote To Approve Keystone Passes, Decision Still Lies With White House

[wtmusic]

"Tonight, 62 Senators voted for an amendment to the Fiscal 2014 Budget Resolution that attempts to give Congress the power to approve the Keystone pipeline. This is despite the fact that the pipeline would do nothing to make the country more energy independent, and would create far fewer jobs than its supporters claim.

While some conservatives may claim the pipeline would create “more than 20,000 direct jobs,” the most recent State Department impact assessment found that the pipeline would directly create only “3,900″ temporary construction jobs. After construction is complete, the operation of the pipeline would only support 35 permanent and 15 temporary jobs, with “negligible socioeconomic impacts.” Moreover, only 10 percent of the total workforce would be hired locally. For perspective, our country had 3.4 million green energy jobs in 2011 and it was the fastest-growing industry in the country.

The State Department’s report also made clear that at least some of the Keystone oil will be refined and then exported, in response “to lower domestic gasoline demand and continued higher demand and prices in overseas markets.” This means the pipeline adds nothing to U.S. energy security, a key talking point used by proponents. It also means that the pipeline is a way for the industry to get access to steeper oil prices in foreign markets. So why the intense push in the U.S. Senate to get this project approved?"

http://thinkprogress.org/climate/2013/03/22/1765651/senate-gone-wild-vote-to-approve-keystone-passes-decision-still-lies-with-white-house/#comment-798971
Obama can still veto. Things are moving fast, folks.

[PDJane]

1. This is the worst thing I can think of for the environment.

This is a fine way to send us racing into 10+ Degrees global warming and polluted water. It's obscene.

[ZombieHorde]

2. I love your avatar pic.

Doomed Earth

[LiberalEsto]

3. Shit. Stupid greedy corporate minions. nt

[wtmusic]

4. The vote breakdown:

http://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/113-2013/s61?utm_campaign=govtrack_feed&utm_source=govtrack/feed&utm_medium=rss

If you're Republican or a Democrat in an oil state, you voted for it. All about the $$$.

Thanks Dems....can you figure out a way to keep the carbon on your side of the fence?

[limpyhobbler]

7. Looks like every Republican voted for it. Plus 17 Democrats.

These 17...
I was thinking some of them should be targeted for primary challenges. The northeastern Dems, the two from Delaware and Casey from PA, would be the obvious choices, except all three of them have just been re-elected. Bennet from CO comes up in 2016 but that's still pretty far away. All the others are probably a pretty solid oil caucus. It seems like there won't be too much of a chance to or discipline anybody for this vote to hold them accountable. But there will be other primaries for the 2014 cycle so that's something to think about.

Baucus (D-MT), Yea
Begich (D-AK), Yea
Bennet (D-CO), Yea

Carper (D-DE), Yea
Casey (D-PA), Yea
Coons (D-DE), Yea

Donnelly (D-IN), Yea
Hagan (D-NC), Yea
Heitkamp (D-ND), Yea

Johnson (D-SD), Yea
Landrieu (D-LA), Yea
Manchin (D-WV), Yea

McCaskill (D-MO), Yea
Nelson (D-FL), Yea
Pryor (D-AR), Yea

Tester (D-MT), Yea
Warner (D-VA), Yea

http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2013/03/22-7

[Mojorabbit]

5. it looks like both my Dem and Rep Senators voted for it

here in Fl. I called, I wrote, I emailed. I am surprised at Bill Nelson on this one. I hope Pres. Obama vetoes it but I have little hope of that happening.

[wtmusic]

6. Yeah we do what we can do

and then it's just out of our control.

I am also surprised at Nelson. And I would love to be a fly on the wall when Kerry is discussing this with Obama, I think it's tearing him up.

[newfie11]

8. I freaking give up!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I have no doubt Obama will sign it. Is everyone on a bad trip!!! What the hell is wrong with this country!!!!!!!!!!!!!