Senate Rejects Pipeline Amendment

The Senate rejected a GOP led attempt to allow construction of the controversial Keystone XL pipeline, despite the Obama Administration’s objections. It failed in a vote of 56-42, because it would have needed 60 votes in favor to succeed. Eleven Democrats joined the Republican caucus in supporting the plan. President Obama himself lobbied Democrats to vote against the measure. After the vote, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell said, “At a moment when millions are out of work, gas prices are skyrocketing, and the Middle East is in turmoil, we’ve got a president who’s up making phone calls trying to block a pipeline here at home. It’s unbelievable.”