President Obama was as good as his word Tuesday, vetoing the Keystone XL Pipeline days ahead of his deadline to make the decision. It was only the third time during his presidency that he elected to use his veto power.
But Republican leaders warned the president he is sadly mistaken if he thinks a veto is the end of the fight.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said in a statement. "Even though the president has yielded to powerful special interests, this veto doesn't end the debate."
The president, said GOP leaders, vetoed a bill that supported tens of thousands of American jobs, that strengthened the nation's infrastructure and energy security, that enjoyed a broad base of support from Republicans and Democrats, labor unions and small-business owners.
White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest said earlier Tuesday that Obama planned to veto the bill because the State Department is still conducting a review of whether the massive pipeline -- which would transport roughly 800,000 barrels of heavy crude from Hardisty, Alberta, to refineries in Port Arthur, Texas -- would serve the national interest.
In Florida, Commissioner of Agriculture and Consumer Services Adam Putnam was distraught enough over the veto to issue a statement Tuesday:Our country needs good jobs and energy security," said Putnam, "and in one fell swoop President Obama has -- yet again -- failed to meet the needs of the American people. The Keystone XL Pipeline that President Obama vetoed would have created jobs, supported economic growth and provided much-needed energy security.
Myron Ebell of the Competitive Enterprise Institute, blamed Obama's desire to keep Democratic money rolling in.
"President Obama has once again put the political agenda of a few billionaire Democratic donors ahead of the interests of the American people," said Ebell. "The value to our nation of a robust energy infrastructure and of maintaining good relations with Canada, our main ally and trading partner, cannot compete with a few hundred million dollars of contributions to Democratic campaigns."
McConnell's office said the Senate plans to vote on overriding sometime before March 3, even though it's uncertain whether pipeline supporters have the two-thirds majority in both chambers to override.
The Keystone bill got 62 "yeas" in the Senate, but 67 would be needed to override. In the House, though the bill picked up 270 "yeas," the override number is 281.
Reach Nancy Smith at nsmith@sunshinestatenews.com or at 228-282-2423. Twitter: @NancyLBSmith
