Sen. Schumer lays out battle over Keystone pipeline

[RiverLover]

Sen. Schumer lays out battle over Keystone pipeline
1/4/15

Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-New York, said Democrats have enough votes to support the president if he vetoes a bill to begin construction on the Keystone XL pipeline.

"I think there will be enough Democratic votes to sustain the president's veto," said Schumer, the number three Senate Democrat, on "Face the Nation" Sunday.

The Senate narrowly defeated a bill to fast track construction of the pipeline after the House passed it in November. After the vote, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Kentucky, pledged it would be the first bill he takes up when Republicans assume control of the Senate later this month.

Despite Schumer's belief that President Obama would veto the bill, he said that when it comes to the floor, Democrats still plan to offer a series of amendments to make it "more of a jobs bill."

"Our Republican colleagues say that this is a jobs bill but that really is not true at all. By most estimates it would create several thousand temporary construction jobs and only 35 permanent jobs," Schumer said.

The amendments his party might offer include requirements that the steel used in the pipeline be made in America and that the oil that is transported through it be used in America. They would also likely introduce an amendment to create clean energy jobs.

"Why create very few jobs with the dirtiest of energy from tar sands when you can create tens of thousands more clean jobs using wind and solar?" Schumer said. ...

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/schumer-democrats-can-back-obama-if-he-vetoes-keystone-pipeline-bill/

[Vincardog]

1. Offer the amendment that the Keystone Officers and STOCKHOLDERS bear absolute responsibility for any

and all cleanup and, or damage by any Keystone spill, leak, or operation.

[RiverLover]

2. I wish!

I think Schumer is setting us up for what is to come. Knowing he likes to talk progressive but doesn't walk the talk, what he says here is a bit like "foreshadowing" in a novel to me.

I don't think we're going to like the ending.

[PoliticAverse]

3. So they are going to amend it and call it 'a jobs bill' and then vote for it?

Another 'bi-partisan success'?