Mediaboss Marketing

Democrats successfully blocked the Keystone XL pipeline Monday, launching a filibuster in the Senate that keeps the long-delayed project on ice for at least the near term while Republicans try to figure out whether they can revive the bill.

We hit our first little bump in the road back to regular order, but weve got to roll with some things, said Sen. Lisa Murkowski, the Alaska Republican who was in charge of shepherding the bill through the chamber.

Democratic leaders, who oppose the pipeline, nonetheless said they were filibustering in order to continue the debate and to earn the chance to vote on more amendments to the bill.

PHOTOS: Bang for your buck: Best handguns under $500

They accused Republicans of trying to shut down debate too quickly and said the two weeks the Senate devoted to the issue werent enough. The Senate has voted on two dozen amendments more than the chamber considered in all of 2014, when it was under Democratic control.

Still, Democratic leaders said Republicans should be held to the standard set by Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, Kentucky Republican, who pledged to allow a more freewheeling process.

Trying to muzzle the debate by refusing to allow Democrats even one minute to advocate for their amendment and then simply refusing to hold votes on dozens of other amendments is not a remotely open process, said Sen. Charles E. Schumer, New York Democrat. Democrats are seeking to improve this bill for middle-class families, while Republicans are working to preserve it as a special interest giveaway to foreign oil and foreign steel companies.

Republicans fell six votes shy of the 60 needed to end the filibuster. Four Republicans and two Democrats who were co-sponsors of the Keystone bill were absent. If these senators had been present, the vote might have passed.

Three other Democrats Sens. Thomas R. Carper of Delaware, Robert P. Casey Jr. of Pennsylvania and Jon Tester of Montana who voted for the Keystone pipeline two months ago reversed themselves and voted to filibuster it Monday.

The Keystone pipeline would carry oil from Canadas tar sands to refineries along the Gulf of Mexico. But the project has taken on a symbolism far outstripping its economic or environmental impact.

Excerpt from:
Democrats filibuster Keystone, force Republicans to rethink strategy, amendments