Reuters.com
Tue Apr 17, 2012 8:12pm EDT
* Republicans include pipeline in highway funding bill
* Obama previously put pipeline project on hold
By Roberta Rampton
WASHINGTON, April 17 (Reuters) - The White House on Tuesday renewed its threat to veto legislation to fund U.S. transportation projects responsible for millions of jobs if it includes the politically charged Canada-to-Texas Keystone XL oil pipeline.
Republicans in the House of Representatives have included the pipeline in a bill that proposes a 90-day extension of funding for highway, bridge, and transit construction. The House is expected to vote on the legislation on Wednesday.
In a statement on the proposal, presidential advisers said the legislation would circumvent "longstanding and proven process" for determining whether pipelines are in the national interest.
It said mandating the pipeline before a new route was "submitted and assessed" would prompt a recommendation that President Barack Obama veto the long-delayed transportation legislation, said to be crucial for the economy... FULL ARTICLE
Posted on
Tue, April 17, 2012
by John Cox