Keloland - SD Delegation Agenda Item #1: Keystone XL

News Article

By Ben Dunsmoor

The U.S. House of Representatives is expected to vote on a bill to push forward the Keystone XL pipeline Thursday. The Senate is also expected to take up debate this week on the issue.

It was one of the top issues on the campaign trail this fall and now the new Republican-controlled Congress is trying to keep its promise to pass the Keystone XL pipeline even if the president says he plans to veto the legislation.

"It is the first real test on whether or not we have bipartisanship in the Senate, in the House, on an issue where the American people have spoken loudly," Sen. John Thune (R) South Dakota said.

The pipeline would carry Canadian tar-sands crude oil to the Gulf of Mexico and pass right through South Dakota. President Barack Obama has delayed approving the Presidential Permit needed to build the pipeline but Congress hopes to force his hand.

"People from all across this country have weighed in. I think that's largely one of the issues this election was about. All of our candidates ran on getting Keystone approved," Thune said.

A KELO-TV/Argus Leader poll conducted in October found 60 percent of South Dakotans support the pipeline.

New South Dakota Senator Mike Rounds said Wednesday the Keystone XL legislation is the first bill he is co-sponsoring.

In the U.S. House, Representative Kristi Noem also plans to support the project.

"Tomorrow (Thursday) we'll be voting on legislation that moves the pipeline forward and with a Senate now that shares this vision of growth I'm very hopeful this bill will be put on the president's desk soon," Noem said.

There are environmental concerns with the project and the concern that the pipeline will support further development of the Canadian tar sands.

Thune says even if the president vetoes the bill, the Senate will likely try to get the 67 votes needed to override the veto or attach Keystone XL to another bill.

"There will be other legislative vehicles I think Keystone legislation can be attached to, things the president is really going to want. So, we'll just continue to press forward and look for those opportunities to get this legislation, this solution, in front of the president," Thune said.

Debate on Keystone XL is likely to begin this week in the Senate but a vote may not be taken until next week - or later this month - to allow for amendments and floor debate.

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