Legislation in works to speed pipeline (Keystone XL)

[Omaha Steve]

Source: Omaha World Herald

By Joseph Morton

WASHINGTON — Efforts to speed approval of the proposed Keystone XL pipeline appeared to be gaining steam Tuesday on Capitol Hill.

Sen. John Hoeven, R-N.D., told The World-Herald that he and others are putting together legislation to set a deadline for the State Department's decision on the 1,700-mile pipeline that would run from Canada's oil sands to refineries in Texas.

Hoeven declined to specify the deadline that will be included in the legislation, saying the final details are still being worked out. But he said the legislation would produce a faster timeline than the one outlined by the State Department, which has predicted that the matter won't be settled until 2013.

Hoeven said he hopes to unveil the measure Wednesday. The House previously passed legislation, authored by Rep. Lee Terry, R-Neb., that would have required a decision by Nov. 1. Terry and other House Republicans are considering new legislation with a revised deadline.

Read more: http://www.omaha.com/article/20111130/NEWS01/711309884#legislation-in-works-to-speed-pipeline

[Autumn]

1. Good, no point in kicking that decision

down the road.

[Jumping John]

2. It seems un-constitutional for congress to put deadlines on the Executive Branch. eom

[Submariner]

3. Obama should just tell them NO and get it over with

An oil laden slurry of gritty sand streaming through a pipe like wet sandpaper eating away the pipe from the inside out.....what could go wrong?

[groundloop]

4. I suspect there's a huge political motive to this....

The repukes will claim that by opposing the pipeline the administration is killing jobs.