GOP to hold Keystone signing ceremony

Republican leaders will hold a signing ceremony on Friday for legislation authorizing the Keystone XL pipeline.

The event is intended to highlight the Republican Congress’s passage of Keystone, a project proponents say would help the economy. Senate Republicans made the bill their first piece of business after taking control of the chamber.

{mosads}The event is also intended to make the White House more uncomfortable with its upcoming veto of the measure. 

Signing ceremonies are typical for legislation that is signed into law by the president. Lawmakers who crafted the bill typically swarm around the president’s desk to get in the picture for the magic moment when a bill becomes law. 

A signing ceremony for a bill’s enrollment is more unusual, and in this case is intended to make a political point with the White House, which has said Obama will veto the Keystone measure.

It’s not clear when that veto will happen, or how the White House will showcase it. The bill will be signed early enough to be delivered to the White House before the end of the day on Friday.

Friday’s congressional ceremony will be attended by Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio), Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), Sen. John Hoeven (R-N.D.), the author of the Senate bill; and Reps. Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.) and Kristi Noem (R-S.D.). 

Sean McGarvey, president of the North America’s Building Trades Union, will also attend the ceremony on Friday morning. 

The House voted 270-152 on Wednesday to approve legislation authorizing the $8 billion project.