Keystone Pipeline Fails to Build Enough Senate Support

As predicted
earlier in the day, embattled Democratic Sen. Mary Landrieu of
Louisiana was unable to get enough votes to push Keystone XL
pipeline construction support through the Senate. It came up one
vote short. From
USA Today:

Landrieu, the lead Democratic sponsor of the bill, is locked in
a Dec. 6 runoff against GOP Rep. Bill Cassidy. The pipeline vote
has become a political issue in the race, where the state’s oil and
gas industry is supportive of the pipeline’s construction. The
proposed crude-oil pipeline would run nearly 1,200 miles from
Canada to the Gulf Coast.

Both lawmakers are using the pipeline vote to flex their
legislative muscle and clout on Capitol Hill ahead of the
runoff. “The race is not over in Louisiana. She has not given
up, we have not given up on her behalf,” said Senate Majority
Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev.

Landrieu was confident she could secure the 60 votes necessary
to pass the bill, but public vote counts had the bill stalled at 59
votes Tuesday afternoon. “I don’t expect it to fail,” Reid said,
cautioning: “I don’t know what’s going to happen.”

The House passed mirror legislation last week, sponsored by
Cassidy, who is favored to win the Senate race because of the
conservative lean of the state.

It will, of course, come up again in the next Senate next term
and will almost certainly pass. Whether Landrieu will be there to
try to push it through again is another question.

A reminder: A majority of Americans
support building the pipeline.