Senate fails to override Obama's veto of Keystone XL pipeline

[deminks]

http://touch.latimes.com/#section/-1/article/p2p-82971488/

The Senate failed Wednesday to override President Obama's veto of Keystone XL pipeline legislation, ending for now attempts by Congress to speed up approval of the controversial energy project.

Falling short of the two-thirds majority needed, Republicans backers of the pipeline could not peel off enough Democratic supporters to join them. The vote was 62-37, with all Republicans and eight Democrats in favor.

The outcome was the latest setback for the GOP-led Congress, which made passage of Keystone a top priority. It served up a victory for the White House on the first major veto of Obama's administration.

"For a long time, projects like Keystone used to be no-brainers -- they were often approved without much controversy at all," said Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), who made the bill the first order of business when he took control of the chamber in January. "But that was before powerful special interest groups and ideological extremists decided to embark on a quixotic quest."

Noting the significance of the override attempt, McConnell asked senators to take the roll call vote from their desks, a rare practice reserved for landmark votes.

(end snip)

Is Mitchy talking about his own party there? "powerful special interest groups and idological extremists"? I think he must be.

[tularetom]

1. Good question for prospective 2016 Dem presidential hopefuls

"If you had been in the Senate, would you have voted to override President Obama's veto of the Keystone Pipeline?"

A yes answer should be required for nomination on the party's ticket.

[AtomicKitten]

2. Nine Democrats voted to overturn the veto.

1. Michael Bennet, Colo.

2. Thomas Carper, Del.

3. Robert Casey, Pa.

4. Joe Donnelly, Ind.

5. Heidi Heitkamp, N.D.

6. Joe Manchin, W. Va.

7. Claire McCaskill, Mo.

8. Jon Tester, Mont.

9. Mark Warner, Va.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

5. Does anyone know who the "pragmatic", "reality based", "Not as bad as" Democratic senators are?

[AtomicKitten]

6. yep, see my edited post above

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

8. Thanks. I'm waiting for the "they live in red states" excuses.

Accompanied with the "you're not allowed to 'bash' Democrats on DU" tune.

[AtomicKitten]

12. big tent yada yada

[DawgHouse]

15. That's a helpful list! Thanks! nt

[AtomicKitten]

17. it's the same group that voted for it's passage

[BlueCaliDem]

3. GOOD! If those Keystone XL investors in our Senate want to pass a bill to build the dang thing,

they must add safeguards that any spills will be billed to the oil shippers and tar sands landowners (Koch Bros) and not the American taxpayer.

Add that they will FIRST seek approval by the Native tribes over whose lands they have to build the dang thang.

Add that a fair percentage of tar sands oil refined in the United States will go to the U.S. market at significant discounts.

Add that they retain those 35,000 or so jobs throughout the existence of the pipeline, not only after it's been built.

Add that if tar sands oil hog up refineris, they have to build new refineries in order not to shutdown the refinery of "cleaner" oil - which it will do.

Add that they route the pipeline away from aquifers as much as they can, and where they can't, guarantee that those sections of the pipeline are triple enforced.

Maybe, just maybe, it's something to reconsider. Otherwise? NO.

[madokie]

16. I like the idea of a pipe in a pipe, kinda like the double hulled ships

[HappyMe]

4. Good.

Why would 8 Dems vote to over ride.

[Sheepshank]

7. I suppose it could be because they are dirty rotten Dems.

In my wildest imagination however, I'd like to think that they wanted to tantalize the Reps and get them so close they could smell victory...just so it all could be yanked away and feel that sweet pain of defeat a little more poignantly. But then of course, that's only my imagination.

[FSogol]

9. Because they are in states with massive coal, gas, or oil interests. n/t

[HappyMe]

11. I suppose.

I still think it's crappy.

[n2doc]

13. Like Delaware and Indiana?

[FSogol]

14. Yeah, can't explain those two

[m-lekktor]

10. good news. K & R nt