Senate expected to pass Keystone XL Pipeline bill today; lack votes to avoid presidential veto

The Senate is expected to approve the controversial $8 billion Keystone XL Pipeline today but still lacks enough votes to override a presidential veto, which is something President Obama has said he will do if the bill passes, Elana Schor reports for Politico. The House approved a Keystone XL Pipeline bill earlier this month.

On Wednesday the Senate went through a dozen amendments from both parties and will weigh several more today "before taking a final vote on legislation that would override Obama’s authority to decide on a permit for Keystone," Schor writes. "Only one of those amendments got attached to the bill, but the few changes already made to the Senate’s pipeline measure require the House to make the next move before it goes to Obama’s desk. The House has not yet settled on whether to vote to approve the Senate’s Keystone bill or go to a conference committee, a House GOP leadership aide wrote by email, speaking candidly on condition of anonymity."

On Wednesday the Senate "rejected Energy and Natural Resources Chairwoman Lisa Murkowski’s (R-Alaska) amendment to block Obama’s plan to protect part of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge as wilderness, Sen. Ted Cruz’s (R-Texas) bid to fast-track new natural gas exports and a measure on the government’s role in preparing for the effects of climate change," Schor writes.