We knew this day was coming, although we’d hoped that somewhere in his heart, President Obama might find the decency to pass legislation that would create thousands of jobs, reinvigorate communities and small towns, likely decrease the instances of exploding trains, and pump much needed cash into our fledgling economy. Alas…
Some have speculated that because the pipeline would’ve run through red states, President Obama would never be willing to reward those states with economic bounty. But we’ve been assured that the bipartisan, union-backed bill was vetoed because the President takes his job very seriously.
Gregory Korte reports at USA Today:
“The presidential power to veto legislation is one I take seriously,” Obama said in his veto message. “But I also take seriously my responsibility to the American people. And 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.”
Suddenly, the President is concerned about “well established executive branch procedures” *cough* executive immigration overreach *cough*. But I digress…
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell remains undeterred, saying in a statement, “Even though the President has yielded to powerful special interests, this veto doesn’t end the debate. Americans should know that the new Congress won’t stop pursuing good ideas, including this one.”
His sentiments echo those of an op-ed placed by both the Majority Leader and Speaker Boehner earlier this afternoon. In a preemptive warning they indicated:
the administration claims the bill will “cut short” the process for approving the project. We disagree. If anything, the process has been needlessly drawn out: more than 2,300 days have passed since the Keystone application was first filed.This level of delay is extreme, even for Washington. In fact, approving these types of pipelines was once routine. In 2009, this administration approved the Alberta Clipper pipeline project — one very similar to Keystone — to bring oil sands petroleum from Canada to the United States. There was little controversy and fanfare. Certainly, no years-long national debate.Unfortunately, this White House refuses to listen and look for common ground. It’s the same kind of top-down, tone-deaf leadership we’ve come to expect and we were elected to stop.The allure of appeasing environmental extremists may be too powerful for the president to ignore.
Is the fight over? Hardly. McConnell and Boehner warn, “the president is sadly mistaken if he thinks vetoing this bill will end this fight. Far from it. We are just getting started.”
As to the possibility of overriding Obama’s veto, barring an unexpected flux of Democratic support, the number’s just aren’t there. But that won’t keep Congress from trying. As Gregory Korte pointed out in USA Today, “the bill passed the House 270-152 and the Senate 62-36, margins well short of the two-thirds majorities needed to override. McConnell said a veto override vote will be scheduled by March 3.”
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