Congress passes pipeline, waits for president

The 114th Congress passed the Keystone Pipestone XL Pipeline bill by a vote of 62 to 36 Thursday.

The largely Republican Congress is in its legislative session and green lit the project, but President Barack Obama has the bill next.

Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont., supported the bill in Washington, D.C., and said Congress was doing great work.

“I urge President Obama to sign the bill into law,” Tester said in a press release. “But Keystone is not the only solution for our energy future. We must step up our work to make cleaner energy alternatives a larger part of our nation’s energy strategy.”

The White House has indicated the president will do no such thing — Obama is planning a veto

During a press telephone conference before the Congress voted on the bill Thursday, Tester said conversation about the Keystone XL Pipeline had some contention at the congressional meeting, but he thinks it would be a “very good thing.”

“I support it,” he said. “It will do things like create jobs in eastern Montana, reduce our energy dependence in the Middle East.”

He said he did not support Majority Leader Mitch McConnell’s tactics of stopping senators from offering amendments or being able to speak on the amendments they had offered.

He added that safety is a high priority in the pipeline.

“Montanans know too well what can happen when safety standard aren’t taken seriously,” he said, alluding to the recent oil spill in the Yellowstone River, saying the incident was completely avoidable. “ … That’s why Keystone must be built at the highest safety standards.”

He said if they go about implementing plans for the Keystone XL Pipeline in the right way, he is hopeful they will be able to override a veto from the president.

Daines cheers Senate vote 

Sen. Steve Daines, R-Montana, applauded the bipartisan Senate passage of legislation approving the Keystone XL pipeline, 62-36.

"This long-awaited legislation will create tens of thousands of good paying jobs, bring much needed economic opportunity to Montana and move the nation one step closer to North American energy independence," he said.

“Today, the Senate finally took long-awaited action and passed common sense, pro-growth legislation to approve the Keystone XL pipeline. This job-creating project will increase economic opportunity in Montana — in turn, raising tax revenues to fund our schools and infrastructure while lowering energy costs for the hardworking Montana families that need it the most,” Daines stated. “For far too long, this project has been stalled by Washington politics. It’s time for President Obama to stand with the American people and approve this project.”

  Daines is an original co-sponsor of S-1, the bill to approve construction of the Keystone XL pipeline.