Senate Democrats blocked an effort to advance a vote on legislation authorizing the Keystone XL oil sands pipeline to the floor Monday, putting the timing of the final vote in question.
The 53-39 vote wasn’t enough to end debate on the bill, which would OK the 1,700-mile Canada-to-Texas project. That means a vote might not come until next week.
Snowfall in the Washington area aided the results, as a handful of pro-Keystone XL lawmakers weren’t in the Capitol for the vote.
But Democrats also said they objected to the way Republicans handled floor proceedings last week, as they contended the GOP reneged on a promise to allow an open amendment process on the bill.
“We’re making them keep their word,” Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., told reporters.
But Republicans said Democrats were obstructing by not agreeing on a set of amendments to vote on as a compromise to holding votes on limitless amendments.
“It’s all relative. You can’t go on forever,” Sen. Rob Portman, R-Ohio, told the Washington Examiner.
Energy and Natural Resources Chairman Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, said she would work with committee ranking member Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., on a list of amendments to break the logjam.
“An agreement that will allow for additional amendments to be processed, but ultimately an agreement that will allow us to get to passage,” Murkowski said on the floor.
The bill is expected to pass the Senate, and would be reconciled with the House version that passed earlier this month.
President Obama has threatened to veto the measure. He said it would circumvent a federal review at the State Department, which has been ongoing for more than six years.
Republicans and centrist Democrats who support the $8 billion project say the Obama administration has had enough time to evaluate the pipeline.
“I would like to see us decide Keystone and move on. I’d love to see the president decide Keystone and move on,” Sen. Heidi Heitkamp, D-N.D., who voted with Republicans to proceed to a vote, told reporters. “We’ve got a lot of issues that are pending in this body that need to be addressed.”
