House to vote on Keystone bill Thursday

The House will vote on a bill to approve the Keystone XL pipeline on Thursday, Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) said on Wednesday.

The bill was proposed by Rep. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) on Wednesday minutes after Democratic Sen. Mary Landrieu (La.) called for a vote in the Senate on the pipeline.

{mosads}Cassidy is challenging Landrieu in a December runoff in Louisiana and both candidates have sought to tout their clout on energy issues.

“The House has passed legislation to expedite the construction of the Keystone XL pipeline eight times, The Senate did not consider any of the eight,” Cassidy said in a statement.

“I will now pass a bill identical to the bill the Senate is said to consider to push this issue forward. If the Senate also passes the bill it can go straight to the President’s desk for signature,” he added.

Cassidy didn’t shy away from jabbing Landrieu’s move, which Democrats believe will boost her in the runoff.

“It is easy to wonder if the Senate is only considering this because of politics,” Cassidy added.

“Even so, I hope the Senate and the President do the right thing and pass this legislation creating thousands of jobs.”