Senate Democrats denied approval of the Keystone XL Pipeline’s construction Tuesday by a single vote, preventing the bill from an expected veto override by President Barack Obama.
The oil pipeline that would run south from Canada to the Gulf of Mexico has been a highly debated development for the Obama administration. Republicans support the pipeline’s potential for job creation while Democrats and environmentalists oppose it.
U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis., who voted against the bill, said in a statement that the decision for the pipeline ultimately rests with the administration.
“Congress should not be in the business of approving individual pipelines, and I have concerns about the precedent this would set,” Baldwin said in an email.
U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., who voted in favor of the bill, said in a release he is disappointed because of the positive effects the pipeline would have on jobs and energy costs.
“Democrats’ failure to support this legislation is a prime example of the dysfunction in Washington and how their policies have hurt our economy,” Johnson said in the release.
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry recommended denial of the application because of the rushed deadline, according to a press release. President Obama said he agrees because of the negative effects that may have been caused by the rushed deadline for approval.
Obama said in the release congressional Republicans negligently forced a deadline that did not allow the State Department enough time for a full assessment on the pipeline’s health and safety impact.
