The Senate may vote this month on a measure backing the Keystone XL pipeline, which could help Democratic Sen. Mary Landrieu in her runoff election with her Republican challenger Rep. Bill Cassidy.
Senate Democrats are likely to allow an open amendment process that could result in the Keystone vote being attached to either an Internet sales tax bill next week or the defense authorization bill after Thanksgiving,
according to Politico.
"It could happen as soon as tomorrow or it could happen two weeks from now, but all signs are pointing to something will happen in the near term," a Democratic Senate told the political news website.
During her election campaign, Landrieu was a fierce proponent of the $9 billion pipeline, even though the Obama administration has taken its time reviewing the proposals for the project that would permit Canada to ship crude oil to the Gulf Coast.
According to Politico, Landrieu might even be able to introduce her own standalone bill to push Keystone if she gets the approval of Democratic leadership.
"If that were to happen and Landrieu were to ask for a vote, it’s extremely unlikely that a Democrat would block it," said a Senate Democratic leadership aide.
Landrieu’s re-election is viewed as a must-win for the Democrats if they want to stand a chance of recapturing the Senate in 2016.
With the GOP demanding that President Barack Obama approve the pipeline project as soon as possible, Democrats understand that it was due to come up for vote when the GOP rules the Senate next year.
The Democrats, who still control the chamber until January, believe that the Keystone vote should take place while they have the majority and before Landrieu’s Dec. 6 runoff, Politico reported.
Obama has been in no rush to green light the pipeline, saying he plans to wait until the State Department completes its long drawn-out review of the project before he decides whether to sign off on it.
If the Senate passes an amendment or a bill backing Keystone, the House is expected to quickly follow in its footsteps
"If they pass a good bill, the House will likely pass it, too, and also mock Washington Democrats for pointlessly delaying an important jobs bill for nakedly partisan reasons," a House GOP leadership aide told Politico.
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