Two decisions today concerning the Keystone X-L oil pipeline: the U.S. House voted overwhelming to pass a bill authorizing the pipeline. And the state Supreme Court in Nebraska tossed out a lawsuit that challenged the approval of the route the pipeline would take through the state.
U.S. congressman Bill Long, a Republican who represents Missouri’s 7th District, voted to authorize the pipeline. In a statement he says, the pipeline is “about jobs and energy security for the American people.” Long believes it would be the nation’s safest pipeline built to date.
President Obama has threatened to veto the pipeline measure. And he has said he needed the ruling from Nebraska before deciding whether the pipeline from Canada is in the national interest.
U.S. Senator Roy Blunt, a Republican from Missouri, sent out a statement about the Nebraska Supreme Court ruling. He said, “the Keystone XL Pipeline could support tens of thousands of jobs and invest billions in our economy.” According to Blunt, “President Obama is out of excuses. It’s time to approve this common-sense job-creating infrastructure project and put Americans back to work.”
Representative Billy Long said in his statement, that it’s “way past time for the president to say yes to energy and the Keystone XL pipeline.”
But a White House spokesman says the ruling will have no effect on Obama's veto plans. The spokesman says the measure "still conflicts with long-standing executive branch procedures."
