First-term Senator Joe Manchin again bucked party lines
Thursday, joining 10 other Democrats and all 45 Senate Republicans in voting
for an amendment to a Surface Transportation Bill that would give Senate
approval for the proposed 1,700 mile pipeline that would link oil development
in Canada to
refineries in the US.
Supporters of the pipeline, like Manchin, claim that
construction of the pipeline is a vital measure to take to create jobs and
reduce dependence on foreign oil providers. President Obama rejected a bid to
expedite the pipeline in January, arguing that a proposed deadline did not give
enough time to conduct necessary reviews.
In a press release issued Thursday afternoon, Manchin had
the following to say:
The Keystone XL pipeline simply makes sense. I can't understand why we would pass
up an opportunity to buy oil from our greatest ally and trading partner, Canada."
"I have said that the only way we will ever truly get gas
prices under control is with an energy policy that uses everything we've got,
and the Keystone XL pipeline is a very important part of that equation."
Manchin's vote was once again in opposition to West Virginia's
other Senator, Jay Rockefeller, who voted against the amendment. The Senators
have differed considerably in their stances regarding the controversial
pipeline, and Thursday's vote was no different.
"The oil in this pipeline is not going to do a thing for
West Virginia. It will go to foreign oil markets," Rockefeller said in a press release.
"Moreover, building a pipeline of that length and complexity in such a short
time is not safe or a good idea."
"While I agree that we need to prioritize projects and ideas
that will create jobs and get our economy back on track, we cannot and should
not blindly rush through the approval process."
The amendment received 56 total ‘yea' votes in the Senate,
failing to reach the 60-vote mark needed for passage.
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