"A top priority for a Republican-led Senate will be to send President Barack Obama a bill to authorize the Keystone XL pipeline and dare him to veto it.

While most senators support TransCanada Corp.’s proposed $5.4-billion Canada-to-U.S. oil pipeline, the Senate under a Democratic majority hasn’t held a binding vote on it since 2012. The Republican-controlled House has repeatedly voted to permit the pipeline’s construction.

Advocates say the shift in the chamber’s leadership next year will give them more leverage in the oil-versus-environment debate that has raged since TransCanada applied for a permit in 2008. At the same time, Obama probably would veto legislation that requires approval, and Republicans are far short of the two-thirds majority needed to overcome a veto."
 
Laura Litvan reports for Bloomberg News November 5, 2014. [2]

SEE ALSO:

"McConnell Vows To Chart New Senate Path Under GOP Control" (E&E Daily) [3]

"Keystone Pipeline Supporters Nearing Filibuster-Proof Majority" (The Hill) [4]

"White House: GOP Senate Won’t Stop Obama on Climate" (The Hill) [5]

"Priebus: Obama Will Sign Keystone XL Bill" (The Hill) [6]

"Inhofe Blasts ‘Extreme’ Climate Report" (The Hill) [7]