Despite President Barack Obamas continued threat of a veto, the U.S. House voted to authorize the construction of the Keystone XL Pipeline on Wednesday on a 270-152 vote. Only one Republican -- U.S. Rep. Justin Amash of Michigan -- voted against the measure while 29 Democrats voted for it. With the U.S. Senate having voted for authorization last month, the bill now heads to Obamas desk.
Party lines mostly held in Florida, but two Democrats -- Gwen Graham and Patrick Murphy -- voted to support the authorization.
U.S. Rep. Ted Yoho, R-Fla., a strong supporter of the pipeline who has compared it to the transcontinental railroad of the 19th century, praised the authorization after the vote.
Im happy we have finally passed this jobs bill and sent it to the presidents desk to be signed into law, Yoho said. Legislation we pass in Congress should be directed at creating jobs or laying the groundwork for the entrepreneurial spirit of America to flourish. Every bill is an opportunity for us to rebuild our economy and make it strong. Todays vote was to create jobs, plain and simple. The State Department has even placed the number of jobs at around 42,000.
Yoho added he was less than thrilled with some of the efforts made to make the bill palatable to Democrats in the U.S. Senate.
However, this bill is not without its warts, Yoho said. I dont agree with the green energy initiatives or the climate change statements that have been attached -- within the bill -- by Senate Democrats. Playing politics with bills which are important to our economy and hard-working Americans is not the way to conduct the peoples business. Good paying jobs do not come from Washington, D.C., they come from hard-working Americans across the country.
U.S. Rep. Dennis Ross, R-Fla., also backed the measure, and said, "The Keystone XL Pipeline will provide energy security, create jobs, and boost our economy, I am proud of the House and Senate for passing this bipartisan legislation that would approve the Keystone XL Pipeline. President Obama should heed the advice of the American people and sign this important legislation into law.
Democrats remained adamantly against the measure, accusing Republicans of playing games since they know the bill will be vetoed. U.S. Rep. Alcee Hastings, D-Fla., took to the House floor with a toy hamster, to make his point against the GOP majority.
The last few years have been like a hamster on a wheel, spinning and spinning and not getting anywhere, said Hastings on the House floor.
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