In a much anticipated event President Obama vetoed the controversial Keystone XL pipeline, therefore sending the legislation back to the Congress for a possible veto override.
This was only the third veto of the Obama presidency and the first over a major piece of legislation. This particular legislation had a rare bi-partisan support from both Democrats and Republicans has place tensions between key Democratic constituencies with trade unions and environmentalist on opposing sides.
In his veto statement the president stated, “Through this bill, the United States Congress attempts to circumvent longstanding and proven processes for determining whether or not building and operating a cross-border pipeline serves the national interest.”
The president continued, “The Presidential power to veto legislation is one I take seriously. But I also take seriously my responsibility to the American people. And because this act of Congress conflicts with established executive branch procedures and cuts short thorough consideration of issues that could bear on our national interest — including our security, safety, and environment — it has earned my veto”
As expected the Republican leadership reacted by ripping into the president’s use of the veto over this controversial piece of legislation.
House Republican Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) called it a “national embarrassment.”
“The president is just too close to environmental extremists to stand up for America’s workers. He’s too invested in left-fringe politics to do what presidents are called on to do, and that’s put the national interest first,” Boehner said.
Don Stewart, spokesman for Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), tweeted that the attempt at a veto override “will happen no later than March the 3rd.”
“Even though the president has yielded to powerful special interests, this veto doesn’t end the debate. Americans should know that the new Congress won’t stop pursuing good ideas, including this one,” McConnell said in a statement.
Various Democrats spoke out against the president’s veto with the Hill reporting Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), a staunch advocate of Keystone, said he will vote to override Obama but isn’t expecting the effort to succeed.
“I mean, we only had nine
Sens. Claire McCaskill (Mo.), Heidi Heitkamp (N.D.), and Bob Casey Jr. (Pa.) will also support overriding Obama’s veto.
It currently appears the Republicans do not have the two-thirds majority they will need in the both the House and the Senate to override the presidential veto.
The American Petroleum Institute (API) scolded the president for vetoing the bill, arguing it is “political as usual here in Washington.”
“Voters spoke loud and clear last fall, saying they wanted Washington to work together,” said API CEO Jack Gerard. “Unfortunately, the veto today demonstrates some are not listening.”
The Hill reported that Opponents, particularly in the environmental movement, warn the use of oil sands will worsen climate change and say Obama’s legacy will be tarnished if he approves the pipeline.
Prominent climate group 350.org credited environmentalists’ six-year push against Keystone for Obama’s stand against the bill.
“This veto is conclusive proof that activism works,” said May Boeve, executive director of 350. ”Now, it’s time for the president to show he’s serious about his climate legacy by moving on to step two: rejecting this pipeline once and for all.”
One of the arguments in favor of building the Keystone XL pipeline would be to transport the nation’ energy via pipeline instead of by rail, as one only has to look at the train derailment in West Virginia, which was carrying crude oil as an example of the continued use of this mode of transportation.
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