President Obama’s press secretary announced Tuesday that the president plans to veto legislation to approve the contested Keystone XL pipeline.
While Congress claims to have authority to regulate interstate commerce and therefore green-light the project, which will construct a pipeline carrying tar sands oil from Canada to the Gulf of Mexico, the administration has countered that the State Department is currently in the midst of a “well-established review process” that should not be “undermined” by legislation.
Additionally, a court in Nebraska—which sits in the middle of the pipeline’s route—is still in the process of deciding a case challenging the route.
Senators John Hoeven of North Dakota and Joe Manchin of West Virginia have stated that the bill has 60 co-sponsors, but it is not yet clear if there is enough support to override a presidential veto.