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Maine's Sen. King Says He'll Oppose Keystone Bill, While Collins Vows Support

Tom Porter
/
MPBN

WASHINGTON - Maine U.S. Sen. Angus King, an independent considered a possible swing vote on the Keystone XL Pipeline project, says he will oppose legislation to approve its construction.

In a brief statement, King said the bill currently before the U.S. Senate is the wrong way to go.

"Congress is not - nor should it be - in the business of legislating the approval or disapproval of a construction project," King says. "And while I am frustrated that the President has refused to make a decision on the future of the pipeline, I don’t believe that short-circuiting the process to circumvent his Administration is in the best interest of the American people. I urge the President to make a decision soon, and, if he doesn't, I look forward to working with Congress to put a timeframe on this decision."

A vote on the controversial project is expected later today. Supporters have said that they have 59 votes to move the legislation forward, and speculation has been rampant that King would provide the crucial 60th vote, which would prevent a filibuster.

The project would allow construction of the TransCanada pipeline, which would move more than 800,000 barrels of oil a day from Alberta, Canada to Nebraska, where it would eventually be transported to the Gulf of Mexico.

Supporters say it would create thousands of jobs, while opponents say it would worsen emissions linked to climate change and cause other environmental damage. President Obama has expressed opposition to the bill.

Maine Republican Sen. Susan Collins, meanwhile, says she intends to vote in favor of the bill. This afternoon, Collins released this statement:

"We must develop reasonable policies to advance the goal of energy independence for our nation, help ensure access to safe, reliable, and affordable energy solutions for American families and businesses, and work to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
 
"More than six years ago, TransCanada's application for a permit was filed with the U.S. State Department to build the Keystone XL pipeline, which would transport crude oil from Canada to refineries in the United States.  The environmental reviews and studies have been completed, and it is past time for the President to have made a decision.
 
"Canada has made clear it will develop this resource.  I would much rather see our nation receive and refine the oil from our close ally than have it shipped overseas to Asia.  Canada is our nation's largest trading partner, and this pipeline, constructed at the highest safety standards, would create thousands of jobs in our two nations—both in building the pipeline and in the refining of crude oil, one reason why many labor unions support its construction.
 
"This is also a matter of national security.  This pipeline would help further reduce our reliance on oil from volatile regions of the world, an essential component for our energy security particularly given the ongoing strife in the Middle East.   Moreover, if construction of the pipeline continues to be blocked, the oil would instead be moved by other modes of transportation, such as ships or trains, each of which carry their own risks for accidents, spills, and harmful emissions."

Barbara grew up in Biddeford, Maine. She earned a master’s in public administration from Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government and a bachelor’s in English from the University of Southern Maine.