"Senate Republicans' push for a vote on approval of the delayed $7 billion Keystone XL oil pipeline project gained momentum on Tuesday after Democrats failed to end debate on a major transportation bill.

Fifty-two senators, most of them Democrats, voted to move forward on the $160 billion highway bill without a proposed Republican amendment to authorize construction of the Canada-to-Texas pipeline, eight votes short of the 60 needed to end debate.

The defeat gave Republicans a new opening to attack President Barack Obama for rejecting TransCanada Corp's project, as soaring gasoline prices become a top issue for voters ahead of the November presidential election.

A vote on Keystone faces an uphill battle in the Senate but would likely turn the highway bill into a battle over gasoline prices and job creation."

David Lawder and Roberta Rampton report for Reuters March 7, 2012. [2]

SEE ALSO:

"Democrats Look To Add Natural Gas Subsidies To Transportation Bill" (Huffington Post)
[3]
"Inhofe Pushing Transportation Bill Despite Hefty Price Tag" (Tulsa World)
[4]
"Long-term Transportation Bill Faces Detours" (Politico)
[5]
"OVERNIGHT MONEY: Transportation Bill Tries To Get a Restart" (On The Money/The Hill) [6]

"Transportation Bill Faces a Wall of Opposition From Both Parties" (New York Times) [7]