With a December runoff election looming, Sen. Mary Landrieu, D-La., needs something to help her catch up to her midterm challenger, Republican Congressman Bill Cassidy.
Perhaps that is why, with a heretofore unseen level of urgency, the incumbent Democrat took to the floor of the U.S. Senate Wednesday to plead with her colleagues to approve the Keystone XL Pipeline bill. It remains unclear whether soon-to-be Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., will allow a Senate vote on a bill he has been blocking for months.
“This has been a project that has lingered far too long,” Landrieu said. “It is clearly supported by 60 or more members of this body. It is a piece of legislation that has been endorsed by the new majority leader — [the soon-]to-be majority leader is a cosponsor and a leading cosponsor of the legislation.”
“I believe it is time to act,” she added. “I believe that we should take the new majority leader at his word and stop blocking legislation that is broadly supported by the American public and has been for quite some time. I want to say yes to new Majority Leader Mitch McConnell. The time to start is now. The public has clearly spoken.”
With Tea Party candidate Rob Maness knocked out in the state’s jungle primary, Cassidy is expected to beat Landrieu on Dec. 6. This is likely why the Democratic incumbent is so eager to see the Keystone bill, something that would benefit the Pelican State greatly, pass through Congress and make its way to President Obama’s desk.
But here’s the real kicker: The bill that she is urging her Senate colleagues to take up is sponsored in the House by none other than her runoff opponent, Rep. Bill Cassidy, and the House is expected to vote on it Thursday.
