The U.S. Senate voted down a key vote to override a White House veto on a bill to approve the contentious Keystone XL pipeline, which the GOP sees a key to job creation and maintaining a strong U.S. infrastructure. The vote on override a presidential veto failed 62-37.
The Senate had passed the bill 62-36 in January.But last month President Obama vetoed the measure.
Republicans have said that if they couldn't override Obama's veto, they plan to wrap legislation green-lighting the 1,700-mile pipeline into a spending measure or broader bill, such as the federal highway bill.
But Democrats who oppose the $8 billion Canada-to-Texas project say they're confident Obama would continue to nix legislative attempts to approve the pipeline.
The administration has maintained it would reject bills that circumvent a federal review for a cross-border permit TransCanada Corp. needs to build the pipeline's northern leg. That State Department review has been ongoing for more than six years.
Obama predicted Monday that the State Department would finish its review in "weeks or months."
Pipeline supporters say Obama has had plenty of time to assess the project and have criticized him for holding up the 42,100 jobs the State Department said the pipeline would provide during its two-year construction phase.
"While we urge Congress to continue to fight for [Keystone XL], there should be no need for congressional action if the president would make a final judgment on Keystone. The president has always had the authority on this and he can approve this pipeline today," said American Petroleum Institute President Jack Gerard.
"After more than six years, it's time to move beyond excuses and delays. If we are ever going to enhance our nation's infrastructure we must start by making good decisions on projects that are in our national interest."
Opponents say they are concerned Keystone XL would lock in and drive development of carbon-dense oil sands that they say would worsen climate change.
