Argus Leader - S.D. Delegation Blasts Threat of Keystone Veto

Statement

By Unknown

The White House on Tuesday threatened to veto the first piece of legislation introduced in the Republican-controlled Senate, a bill approving the much-delayed Keystone XL oil pipeline, in what was expected to be the first of many confrontations over energy and environmental policy.

Hours after supporters of the bipartisan bill, which is sponsored by all 54 Senate Republicans and six Democrats, announced its introduction, the White House said for the first time that President Obama would veto it.

"If this bill passes this Congress, the president wouldn't sign" it, White House spokesman Josh Earnest said Tuesday, saying legislation shouldn't undermine the review process underway at the State Department or circumvent a pending lawsuit in Nebraska over its route.

It's "premature to evaluate the project before something as basic as the route of the pipeline has been determined," he said.

The two main sponsors, Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., and Sen. John Hoeven, R-N.D., said Tuesday morning they had enough votes to overcome a filibuster of the bill but not a presidential veto. Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, in one of his first acts, moved to put it directly on the Senate calendar. The House is expected to vote and pass a bill approving the $5.4 billion project, which was first proposed in 2008, on Friday.

The South Dakota congressional delegation, all Republicans, harshly opposed the White House threat.

"It's disappointing that the president is going to fail his first big test as to whether or not he wants to work with Congress," Sen. John Thune said. "He would be wise to remember the November election results and think twice before moving to block the Keystone XL pipeline, a project that clearly has public support. The president's own State Department has admitted the project will support more than 42,000 jobs during construction. The president's war on energy runs counter to what this country needs -- affordable energy that will power our economy and create jobs. Increasing our energy independence will be a high priority for the Republican-led Senate this Congress. I hope Senate Democrats will make the right decision in helping us put American jobs first, and I hope President Obama will start listening to the American people, not holding the economy hostage to the priorities of the far-left wing of his party."

Sen. Mike Rounds, who signed on as a co-sponsor, said South Dakotans support building of the pipeline.

"I'm disappointed the president failed to listen to the will of voters by threatening to veto this important project. Instead, he's pandering to the extreme left minority of his party. My hope is that cooler heads will prevail at the White House as we send this and other commonsense bills his way in the future."

From the House, Rep. Kristi Noem also condemned the threat.

"It's incredibly frustrating to see President Obama continue playing politics with our future energy security," Noem said. "This administration has put out 22,000 pages of reviews that show the Keystone XL Pipeline is in the best interest of our economy and the environment. ... The pipeline would generate millions in property taxes for South Dakota annually while alleviating some of the pressure oil is putting on our roads and rails."

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