House Set to Vote Tomorrow: Debate on Keystone XL on Its Way to Senate

Levi Rickert, editor-in-chief in Native Challenges. Discussion »

Keystone XL Pipeline

WASHINGTON - With the House expected to vote Tuesday on the payroll tax break with the Keystone XL pipeline provision attached to it, Senate leadership have begun to exchange barbs on the controversial project.

“Now is not the time to be debating unrelated measures like an oil pipeline,”

commented Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nevada, on Friday. "If the House sends us their bill with Keystone in it, they are just wasting valuable time because it will not pass the Senate."

On the other side of the aisle, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Kentucky, pressed for the Keystone pipeline's inclusion in the Senate bill payroll tax cut extension. Appearing on "Fox News Sunday," McConnell said he wants the tax cut bill linked to the Keystone project.

“It's shovel ready,”

said McConnell.

American Indians and environmentalists oppose the pipeline.

The proposed pipeline coming down through the Plains states has caused great concern, particularly among the Oglala in South Dakota. TransCanada's proposed pipeline route is right though the Pine Ridge and Rosebud reservations. It will cross the Oglala Sioux Rural Water Supply System in two places.

Last month, President Obama announced he would delay a final decision on the controversial Keystone XL pipeline until after the 2012 presidential election. This move angered Republicans in Congress who decided to bring the Keystone into the debate over the payroll tax cut extension being pushed by the Obama administration.

The payroll tax extension translates to about $1,000 annually to the average American family.

posted December 12, 2011 6:50 am est