Environment | National | Politics

Senate committee goes ahead with meeting on Keystone XL bill

Thursday, January 8, 2015

Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska). Photo from Facebook

The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee is expected to pass a bill to approve the controversial Keystone XL Pipeline at a business meeting this morning.

Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), the new chairwoman of the committee, went ahead with the meeting even though Democrats forced the cancellation of a hearing on the Keystone XL Pipeline Approval Act. President Barack Obama has already threatened to veto any legislation to approve the project.

Separately, Republican leaders in the Senate are fast-tracking S.1, a bill similar to Murkowski's. The House is expected to pass its version of the bill by the end of this week.

Get the Story:
In face of veto threat, Senate panel considers pipeline bill (AP 1/8)
Keystone XL bill expected to advance at Senate committee Thursday (CBC 1/8)
Nebraska Residents Weary Of Keystone XL Pipeline Debate (NPR 1/8)
Nebraska Court Could Hold Up Keystone Pipeline (AP 1/7)

Committee Notice:
Business Meeting on Keystone XL Legislation to be Held (January 8, 2015)

Some Opinions:
Doug Mataconis: Obama and Congress head for first confrontation over Keystone XL pipeline (The Christian Science Monitor 1/8)
Ron Fournier: The Phony Debate Over the Keystone XL Pipeline (The National Journal 1/7)