House Passes 9th Vote on Keystone Pipeline XL

This is the press release from the House Energy and Commerce Committee after the vote was taken on Keystone Pipeline XL Friday:

WASHINGTON, DC –The U.S. House of Representatives today approved H.R. 5682, a bill authored by Rep. Bill Cassidy (R-LA), which would approve the application for the Keystone XL pipeline and allow construction of the job-creating project to finally proceed after years of the president’s delays. Today marks the ninth time the House has voted to advance construction of the Keystone XL pipeline, which has been tied up in red tape now for over six years. The House approved Cassidy’s bill by a strong bipartisan vote of 252 to 161, and a vote on the legislation is expected in the Senate next week.
“President Obama famously proclaimed in January 2013 that he would do ‘whatever it takes’ to create jobs and 2014 was renamed the president's so-called ‘Year of Action.’ But when the chips are down, President Obama is incapable of saying ‘yes’ to a project that would create thousands of American jobs and advance our energy security. But despite the president’s excuses, we haven’t given up on finding a bipartisan solution,” said Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Fred Upton (R-MI). “Hopefully, this ninth vote is the charm, and the Senate and president will finally agree that after six years, it’s time to say yes to energy and yes to jobs.”

The  Senate is set to vote on the pipeline next week, if Majority Leader Reid keeps his word on that promise.  Once passed by both chambers, it will end up on the desk of the president.  There it will be vetoed in short order.  President Obama does not support the Keystone Pipeline XL project and makes no bones about that.  He pledges to veto the bill.  

While this is all about the Louisiana senate race, it is important to keep this issue fresh in the minds of voters.  It has been too long in the making and the excuses from Democrats and President Obama - even some "conservatives" - have all been addressed long ago.  Study after study has been completed and no damage to the environment is foreseen.  President Obama is beholden to far left wing environmentalists who give big dollars to campaign war chests with strings attached - those strings being a promise that fossil fuel energy will continue to be their boogie man.  It is an immoral and incorrect view of energy policy but that is the vacuum in which they dwell.

Here is the recap of the vote:

The 252-161 roll call Friday by which the House approved the construction of the Keystone XL oil pipeline, setting up a Senate showdown vote next week.A "yes" vote is a vote to pass the bill.Voting yes were 31 Democrats and 221 Republicans.Voting no were 161 Democrats and 0 Republicans.

Rep Jason Amash (R-MI) voted "Present" on the bill.  If he runs for another term, it will be entirely appropriate for him to face a primary challenger.