Schumer: Senate would not override a Keystone veto

A top Senate Democrat predicted on Sunday that Republicans will not attract enough Democratic votes to override any veto by President Barack Obama of legislation to approve the Keystone XL pipeline.

The pipeline is expected to be one of the early tests for the new Republican-controlled Congress. Democrats plan to introduce several amendments to the bill, including a proposal that would require that the oil sent through the $8 billion project be used in America and not exported to other countries, Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) said on CBS’ “Face the Nation.”


“We’re going to say that the oil should stay here,” he said.

Other proposals Democrats plan to offer would require steel used for the pipeline to be manufactured in the U.S. and provide investments in clean energy as well.

But even if those provisions are adopted, Schumer was skeptical the bill would garner the two-thirds Senate majority needed to override a veto.

“These amendments will make it better, but certainly not good enough at this time,” Schumer said. “I think there will be enough Democratic votes to sustain the president’s veto.”

Republicans are pitching the bill as a plan to create more jobs. And the president has not said whether he would veto such a measure but has raised concerns the project would be more beneficial to Canadian oil companies than American workers. Experts picked from both sides are expected to weigh in when the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee holds a hearing on the issue this week.