Reid Gives GOP Rope On Keystone, Republicans Demand More, Scuttling Vote

Reid said he would not allow votes on any GOP-sponsored amendments later this week when the Senate considers the energy bill sponsored by Sens. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) and Rob Portman (R-Ohio.).

Reid’s decision likely scuttles a vote that was expected on the Keystone XL pipeline unless Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.) capitulates on his demand for votes on GOP sponsored amendments.

Reid had earlier said he would allow a vote on stand-alone legislation to authorize the pipeline in exchange for an agreement from Republicans to allow an up-or-down final vote on Shaheen-Portman.

But Reid on Tuesday said that arrangement was under threat because McConnell (Ky.) was insisting on voting on five GOP-sponsored amendments to the bill.

“If they want to vote on Keystone, they can have a vote on Keystone, but enough is enough,” he told reporters.

read: http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/205349-reid-gives-gop-ultimatum-on-keystone


“I don’t think there are any discussions going on between the leaders right now,” said Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., who is Republican Conference chairman. “I think there are discussions going on between individual members, but until Sen. Reid, I think, reaches out to Sen. McConnell to try to negotiate a path forward, it’s going to be very hard for us to figure out what that is.”

Reid contends that the GOP’s call for five amendments is just the latest example of Republicans not negotiating in good faith and obstructing Senate business.

“I have told them [if] they want a vote on Keystone, they can have a vote on Keystone,” Reid said. But “That’s not good enough for them. They add four or five amendments. Its never quite enough.”

. . . Meanwhile, Senate Republicans charged that the White House is using a grim climate change report released Tuesday to tamp down support against a bipartisan Senate proposal to bypass President Barack Obama and authorize construction of the Keystone XL pipeline.

read: http://blogs.rollcall.com/wgdb/energy-efficiency-keystone-xl-vote-deal-senate/