Keystone XL pipeline (S1) has passed in the Senate (62-36) with strong bi-partisan support. The bill now goes to House where it’s likely to pass. Then the Keystone XL Piepline bill is off to King Hussein Obama where he will likely veto it.
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| Keystone XL pipeline passes in Senate (62-36) |
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But it also includes messaging language on climate change and taxes on the oil industry that House leaders could decide to try to massage or strip out entirely during conference, rather than take their chances on the floor. The Senate bill includes nonbinding language that states that climate change is “real and not a hoax.” Senate Republicans overwhelmingly accepted that proposal since climate change was not described as being worsened by humans, but it’s unclear whether enough House GOP members would do the same. The Senate measure also contains symbolic language calling on the House to pass legislation closing a so-called loophole that lets Canadian oil sands producers avoid paying an excise tax that funds oil spill cleanups. That amendment had broad Republican support in the Senate, but a House dominated by conservatives may not want to signal support for a tax increase on any constituent – especially before any effort to overhaul the tax code takes shape.