Environment | Politics

Energy bill fails in Senate in dispute over Keystone XL Pipeline

Tuesday, May 13, 2014

Reject and Protect: The Cowboy Indian Alliance held a series of protests in Washington, D.C., in April. Everything is Illuminated/Pool Photos

A energy bill with widespread support failed to advance in the Senate on Monday in a partisan dispute over the controversial Keystone XL Pipeline.

S.2262, the Energy Savings and Industrial Competitiveness Act, enjoys support from Democrats, Republicans and the White House. But Republicans voted to block its passage after accusing Democrats of blocking amendments to it.

Sen. Harry Reid (D-Nevada), the Senate majority leader, disputed that account and said bipartisan amendments were included in the bill. He also said he offered Republicans a vote on a different measure to approve the Keystone project.

"If Republicans stop their filibuster of this bill and allow it to proceed, the Senate will vote on Keystone pipeline legislation – they know that," Reid said on the Senate floor yesterday. "They’ve held this bill hostage as demand after demand has been met, but even now, they’re still seeking a ransom."

Get the Story:
U.S. Senate Republicans block energy bill, forfeit a Keystone vote (Reuters 5/12)
Senate deadlocked on energy bill, ending chances of a vote on Keystone (The Washington Post 5/13)
Amid Pipeline and Climate Debate, Energy-Efficiency Bill Is Derailed (The New York Times 5/13)