Even before the new Senate is seated, the $8 billion Keystone XL Pipeline is a hair's-breadth from becoming a major triumph for its bipartisan supporters. All it needs is a commitment from two more on-the-fence Democratic senators -- and Florida's Bill Nelson is one of the targets.
Sen. Mary Landrieu, D-La., pushing for it hard against the wishes of President Obama and needing it to keep her Senate seat, told reporters Thursday some 60 senators have committed or will commit to the pipeline by the time the Senate votes as it is expected to do next Tuesday.
Landrieu says she is confident she can cobble together the 60 votes needed for a filibuster-proof majority in the upper chamber.
She said she even believes she can "bring around" Florida's Nelson to a "yes" pipeline vote. Earlier this year Nelson indicated he would vote "no" when the time came, but Landrieu believes she can appeal to his "sounder judgment" based on Florida's strong tourism-based ties to Canada.
In fact, she told The Hill on Wednesday, "It is ready for a vote ..."
But, although Nelson has promised he would read the Keystone bill before deciding, his spokesman pointed out this week that he has previously said hed support the pipeline only if Congress could prevent export of the Canadian oil it would carry. For Keystone supporters, the Florida senior senator's caveat -- considered a butt-inski-ism among free marketeers -- is unacceptable.
Canada-Florida bilateral trade hit $8 billion last year, and more than 200 Canadian companies provide direct employment to some 27,500 people across the state. More than 30 Florida companies supply to the Canadian oil sands, and petrochemical products remain Floridas largest import from Canada.
During the 2014 session, the Florida Legislature gave its support to the pipeline through a memorandum introduced by state Rep. Mike Hill, R-Pensacola.
Landrieu is locked in a Senate runoff with Republican Rep. Bill Cassidy, key sponsor of the pipeline legislation in the House. By a vote of more than 2-to-1, Louisiana voters have said in numerous polls they want a senator who can deliver the pipeline.
The House bill is solid for passage of the Canadian oil sands project. It had the votes before the election, has even more now.
At present Keystone supporters have a firm 58 votes in the Senate, 13 of those from Democrats. Delaware Sen. Tom Carper became the latest Democratic convert, committing Thursday to a "yes" vote.
In announcing his decision, Carper even had advice for President Obama: He should declare victory on the climate deal with China, which the senator said will have "profound effects" that far outweigh Keystone in the fight on climate change.
Landrieu is working nonstop with her co-sponsor on the Senate bill, Republican John Hoeven of North Dakota, to convince on-the-fence Democrats to back the Canada-to-Texas pipeline.
White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest told the media Wednesday the administrations dim view of these kinds of proposals (meaning Keystone) has not changed.
Said Earnest, who is traveling with the president, I havent reviewed the specific details that have been discussed overnight, our time, in the Congress. But I think its fair to say that our dim view of these kinds of proposals has not changed.
Besides BillNelson, here are three other Democratic senators Landrieu and Hoeven are likely to target in the final push for 60 votes:
- Chris Coons, Delaware. Though he is known to be frustrated with the Keystone review, a spokesman for Coons said he will vote "no" next week because it isn't Congress's role to issue construction permits.
- Michael Bennet, Colorado. Earlier this year Bennet told The Wall Street Journal he supports Keystone, but with the election over he hasn't indicated how he intends to vote next week and neither he nor his staff is returning calls to talk about it.
- Mark Udall, Colorado. Udall, defeated last week in his re-election bid by Republican Rep. Cory Gardner, still claims Congress should not be injecting politics into the pipeline review process. Republicans nevertheless haven't given up on him.
Landrieu has said she is confident the bill could potentially receive the signature of the president of the United States, but admits the White House isn't tipping its hand.
Reach Nancy Smith at nsmith@sunshinestatenews.com or at 228-282-2423. Twitter: @NancyLBSmith
