"Because this act of Congress conflicts with established executive branch procedures and cuts short thorough consideration of issues that could bear on our national interest -- including our security, safety, and environment -- it has earned my veto."
- President Obama in a message to the Senate.
Wingers flip out!
President Barack Obama vetoed legislation that approved construction of the Keystone XL pipeline.
After Congress passed the bill earlier this month, Obama made good on his many promises to veto the bill Tuesday afternoon, after which he notified the Senate. The move marked only the third veto of Obama's presidency, although most predict many more to come.
CNBC
Will it be overridden by Congress?
Nope.
Neither chamber of Congress currently has the required two-thirds of votes to override a presidential veto. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R., Ky.), said on the Senate floor Tuesday that the Senate plans to hold a vote to override Mr. Obama’s veto by March 3, but it’s unlikely to reach the 67 votes needed to pass.
Activism works!
Thanks to the millions of American patriots who stood together and faced down the Tar Sand Tyrants of Alberta.
REAX
David Roberts @drgrist
I’d bet money that lobbying for Keystone created more jobs than the pipeline itself would.
LOLGOP @LOLGOP
More jobs were created every day in January than would ever be created by Keystone XL.
@SpeakerBoehner
It’s a disgrace for Pres Obama to talk ‘middle-class economics’ & then veto middle-class jobs.
@nancypelosi
“This bill was just another Republican special-interest giveaway. It would have handed a foreign company a license-to-leak on American soil because it keeps the special favors and exemptions that allow companies that ship or refine tar sands oil to dodge paying into the Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund – leaving American taxpayers to foot the bill in the event of a spill. And it would have exempted Keystone from all federal permitting requirements – including those that apply to every other construction project in the country."