Senate Panel Backs Bill to Bypass Obama, Clear Keystone

A U.S. Senate committee approved a bill that would bypass President Barack Obama and permit the long-delayed Keystone XL pipeline, part of a drive by a bipartisan group of lawmakers to force a vote by the full Senate.

The Energy and Natural Resources Committee voted 12-10 today for legislation that would let Calgary-based TransCanada Corp. (TRP) build then operate the $5.4 billion Canada-to-U.S. oil pipeline that has been snagged in disputes for more than five years. Democrats Joe Manchin of West Virginia and Chairman Mary Landrieu of Louisiana, who helped write the bill, joined all the Republicans in backing the legislation.

“This is about what our future energy policy should look like,” said Landrieu, pointing to the need to boost construction employment and expand oil imports from Canada and also Mexico, both long-time allies.

The measure’s prospects aren’t good, however. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, who sets the agenda for chamber action, hasn’t agreed to bring the issue up for a vote. Obama could veto it if it did pass.

Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell dismissed the committee action as a “political show vote.”

“The question isn’t whether energy-state Democrats can support a Keystone bill in committee,” McConnell of Kentucky said in an e-mailed statement. “It’s whether or not they’ll continue to stand with their party and their leader in blocking the full Senate from voting on it, or whether they’ll stand up for jobs and demand a vote.”

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http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-06-18/senate-panel-backs-bill-to-bypass-obama-clear-keystone.html