Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
WASHINGTON (AP) — The White House is indicating that President Barack Obama would veto legislation approving the Keystone X-L oil pipeline.
The Senate has scheduled a vote later today on whether to advance the measure. Sixty votes are needed, and supporters are nearly there.
A spokesman today says Obama doesn't support the legislation, because it's a decision that should be made through "the regular process."
A senator who'd been seen as a possible 60th vote -- Maine independent Angus King -- announced today that he would oppose the bill despite what he described as his frustration over Obama's refusal to make a decision on it.
Democratic Sen. Mary Landrieu (LAN'-droo) has been pushing for passage of the measure, hoping it will boost her chances in an upcoming runoff with Republican Congressman Bill Cassidy. He sponsored an identical bill that passed the House on Friday.
Environmentalists have urged Obama to reject the pipeline as proof of his commitment to curb global warming, even though a State Department environmental review said it would not worsen the problem. The oil industry, labor unions and Republicans have called on Obama to approve it, arguing that it would create jobs and reduce oil imports from the Middle East.
%@AP Links
220-a-16-(Unidentified constituent of Senator Michael Bennet, D-Colo., at meeting with the senator's staff)-"fixing our infrastructure"-This opponent of the pipeline was part of a group that showed up at the office of Colorado Democrat Michael Bennet today, saying there are better ways to create jobs. (18 Nov 2014)
<<CUT *220 (11/18/14)££ 00:16 "fixing our infrastructure"
181-a-03-(Senator Mary Landrieu, D-La., chairman, Senate Energy and Natural Resources committee, during debate)-"it's about jobs"-Senator Mary Landrieu says thge pipeline would help the country in several areas. (18 Nov 2014)
<<CUT *181 (11/18/14)££ 00:03 "it's about jobs"
APPHOTO DCCK123: Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., tries to move through members of the media after speaking to them on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, Nov. 18, 2014. President Barack Obama does not support a Senate push to approve the Keystone XL oil pipeline from Canada to the Texas Gulf coast, White House press secretary Josh Earnest said Tuesday, hours before a scheduled vote. Republican leaders promised to take it up again next year if the Senate fails to advance the measure, or if Obama vetoes it. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster) (18 Nov 2014)
<<APPHOTO DCCK123 (11/18/14)££
Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
