House Overwhelmingly Approves Keystone XL Pipeline

BY DINA CAPPIELLO
Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) – The House has overwhelmingly passed a bill authorizing the Keystone XL oil pipeline despite a veto threat from the White House.

The bill passed Friday on a 266-153 vote, one of the first pieces of legislation considered by the Republican-controlled Congress. It was the 10th vote the House had taken since July 2011 to advance the $7 billion project, which would carry oil from Canada to Gulf Coast refineries.

The Senate has a test vote on Monday with enough support to pass an identical bill.

Hours before the House vote, Nebraska’s highest court tossed out a lawsuit challenging the pipeline’s route, an obstacle the White House said it needed removed to make a decision on the project. The White House veto threat was based partly on the outstanding Nebraska case.