Schumer: Expect vote on Keystone

Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) said Monday that he expects a vote on Keystone XL this week as part of the larger energy debate firing up in the Senate.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) is set to bring an energy efficiency bill led by Sens. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) and Rob Portman (R-Ohio) to the floor as early as Tuesday.

{mosads}And a vote on Keystone will likely be attached, either as an amendment or a stand-alone deal.

“I think there will be a vote on Keystone,” Schumer said during an interview on “Morning Joe.”

“We’re willing to see a vote on Keystone, each side thinks they’re going to win,” Schumer said of those rallying for votes in favor of or against the $5.4 billion project. “It’s going to be real close.”

Shumer added that the oil-sands pipeline isn’t as important as it once was, however, claiming it has been blown out of proportion on both sides.