Senate GOP Accused Of ‘Closing Off Debate’ During Keystone XL Pipeline Votes

[Galraedia]

Source: ThinkProgress

Democrats in the Senate are accusing Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of breaking his promise of an “open amendment process” for legislation to approve construction of the Keystone XL pipeline, after two Democrat-sponsored amendments were not brought to a vote on their merits on Tuesday.

Instead of taking up actual “yes” or “no” votes on the amendments, the Senate voted to table — meaning, effectively kill — those two measures. One, sponsored by Sen. Ed Markey (D-MA), would have required that all the Canadian oil shipped through the Keystone XL pipeline stay in America, and not be shipped overseas. The other, sponsored by Sen. Al Franken (D-MN), would have required that only American-made steel and iron be used to build the pipeline.

The vote to table meant that Senators were not voting on whether they agreed with the content of the amendment, but whether to consider the amendment at all. According to Markey, that doesn’t count as an “open” process.

“Senate Republicans promised an open amendment process, but they are closing off debate, and not allowing a vote on the very first amendment considered by the Senate,” Markey said in a statement following the vote to kill his amendment, National Journal reported.

Read more: http://thinkprogress.org/climate/2015/01/21/3613404/first-keystone-xl-amendment-votes-senate/

[djean111]

1. Why are they bothering with amendments, since Obama says he will veto it? nt

[thesquanderer]

3. In case it passes.

Presidents can change their minds. Vetoes can be over-ridden.

[karynnj]

5. To point out Republican hypocriscy

Last edited Wed Jan 21, 2015, 02:30 PM - Edit history (1)

The Republicans argue that this will provide needed oil for the US and imply that it could change the price of oil. In fact, the real business plan is to have the oil transit through the US, be refined in Texas/LA and then transported to China. Markey's amendment says that the oil can't be exported. If it were added, it would essentially be a poison pill. The Republicans voting against it are then shown as lying on this.

Franken's amendment says that the pipeline must be made with American steel - thus REALLY creating American jobs. All of one Republican, Burr, voted against that. I hope some are called to justify that vote.

Now both Franken and certainly Markey will vote against the final bill - and will almost certainly vote to uphold Obama's veto. When Obama vetoes it -- these votes can be used as further proof that this was political and a give away to an oil company.

[Faux news amuses]

12. Excellent

Well put....

[misterhighwasted]

2. Without those ammendments of fairness, KXL will deserve Pres Obama's veto.

McConnell is still a Koch whore.
Don't expect him to vere from the orders of his pimps.

[corkhead]

4. what ever happened to the "60 vote threshold" required to pass bills in the Senate?

When those wankers were in the minority, the held up everything. Of course it wasn't a "veto" when they did it.

I don't understand why Democrats don't tell McConnell to shove that pipeline up his ass.

[karynnj]

6. The amendments, which had fewer than 50 votes, were tabled

They WILL need 60 votes to pass the bill and they will probably get them. Then Obama will veto -- and they are thought not to have the 67 votes needed to override the veto.

[Roland99]

7. Up or Down Vote!!

UP



or DOWN

[FailureToCommunicate]

8. ...

Voting (or not) has consequences

[belzabubba333]

10. Voting (or not) has consequences. people sit out elections then hope the president will

just veto everything they dont like .

Voting (or not) has consequences

[geretogo]

9. The ignorant voted for totalitarians they got totalitarians . Enjoy fools .

[belzabubba333]

11. anyone dumb enough to believe the lying sack of turtle shit doesnt belong in congress

[sammy750]

13. Canada has went to court today to take over private lands in NE. Since when can another nation

take over private property in the USA. Where is the GOP on this issue. Are they not supporting the people of NE? Anyway, with all the suits, the pipeline is stalled for 2 years now. So no bill passed by the GOP will make OIL flow in the next few years.

[lark]

14. Duh, Reupugs are hypocrites and liars!

That's their main gig besides being water carriers for the 1%.