McConnell urges Obama to reconsider on Keystone

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell urged President Obama on Wednesday to alter course and sign the bill approving construction of the Keystone XL oil sands pipeline, after the House votes on it. 

The Kentucky Republican told Obama from the Senate floor to “sign this jobs and infrastructure bill” ahead of Wednesday’s vote in the House on legislation that would approve the Canada-to-Texas pipeline. 

{mosads}The House will vote on the Senate bill passed last month, which includes amendments on climate change and energy efficiency.

“The Keystone jobs bill is just common sense,” McConnell said. “That’s why this bipartisan legislation already passed the Senate with support from both parties. That’s why labor unions support it.”

McConnell pressed Obama to change his mind and not follow through on his veto threat. 

“Powerful special interests may be demanding that the president veto Keystone jobs, but we hope he won’t,” McConnell said.

Republicans have started to paint Obama as an obstructionist ahead of the veto, hoping to turn the tide against the administration.

The White House did not issue another veto threat ahead of the House vote, but officials reiterated the president’s position and said the veto threat stands.

Obama has said repeatedly that he does not want Congress to circumvent the ongoing State Department process, which is nearing the finish line after a six-yearlong review of the pipeline’s permit.