WASHINGTON - As expected, Maine's two U.S. Senators were on opposite sides as the U.S. Senate passed a bill approving construction of the Keystone XL pipeline. Nine Democrats joined 53 Republicans to endorse the measure, despite a presidential veto threat.
Voting for the legislation was Republican Sen. Susan Collins. In a statement, Collins says the U.S. "must develop reasonable policies to advance the goal of energy independence...help ensure access to safe, reliable, and affordable energy solutions for American families and businesses, and work to reduce greenhouse gas emissions."
After voting against the Keystone XL measure, Maine independent Sen. Angus King said in a statement that what disappoints him most about the Keystone debate is that it's been "masked as being about this country's energy future."
King says he actually hasn't really heard the issue being discussed around the Capitol. King says Congress owes the American people a vigorous debate on real, substantive energy policy for the U.S., and not on whether Congress should legislate approval of a pipeline.
The measure fell five votes short of the 67-vote threshold needed to override a presidential veto. The bill also needs to be reconciled with the House version.
