McConnell's Veto-Proof Keystone Majority

US Senator Mary Landrieu (D-Louisiana) was French Toast the moment that Republicans took the upper chamber on November 4^th, 2014. Even the Democratic National Senatorial Committee knew that she would not survive her state's December 6th run-off, and tacitly pulled financial support.

Still, in a last-minute attempt to salvage her seat, Landrieu pushed through the authorization for the Keystone Pipeline. For the first time in nearly six years, then Majority-Leader Harry Reid was willing to move on the project: anything to show some semblance of governance in contrast to years of stonewalling, blocking, and outright disruption and gridlock. Landrieu begged and pleaded with her caucus, even though President Obama had pledged to veto legislation. Besides, no one knew whether that bill could have saved one Democratic incumbent in the 2014 GOP shellacknado. Following votes on the US Senate floor, the Keystone measure failed by one vote. Fifty-nine US Senators stood for the project, but they could not force cloture and passage. All the Republicans voted for the bill, and fourteen Democrats crossed over in support:

"In addition to Landrieu, Democrats who backed the pipeline included Sens. Mark Begich of Alaska, Michael Bennet of Colorado, Thomas R. Carper of Delaware, Bob Casey of Pennsylvania, Joe Donnelly of Indiana, Kay Hagan of North Carolina, Heidi Heitkamp of North Dakota, Joe Manchin III of West Virginia, Claire McCaskill of Missouri, Mark Pryor of Arkansas, Jon Tester of Montana, John Walsh of Montana and Mark Warner of Virginia.

Of the Democrats who opposed the bill, they included a distinct remnant who will no longer be there. For example, Mark Udall of Colorado rejected the legislation, yet he will be replaced by Republican Cory Gardner, and he supports Keystone. Entering the new Congressional session, Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and his Republican conference have 60 votes. This much-needed supermajority can pass the bill and get it to President Obama's desk.

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Barack the Obstructionist cannot stop Keystone, if the Republicans can increase their coalition to 67 Senators

Yet before the 114^th Congress began earlier this week, and while Republicans nearly toppled Congressman John Boehner as their next speaker, Obama re-released his stern opposition to any Keystone legislation, and vowed to veto the bill. Nevertheless, Barack the Obstructionist cannot stop Keystone, if the Republicans can increase their coalition to 67 Senators. Who else voted against Keystone at the end of the 113^th Congress, who will be replaced by a Republican? Tom Harkin of Iowa voted against Keystone. He will be replaced by Joni Ernst: 61 votes. Tim Johnson of South Dakota voted No. Mike Rounds will vote yes: 62. Joe Walsh of Montana voted No, but Stephen Daines will vote yes: 63 Jay Rockefeller of West Virginia voted no, but Shelley Moore Capito will agree: 64 Three more senators need to cross over and support the pipeline. Who might change their mind? Chris # of Delaware could agree with his fellow Delawarean Tom Carper, with the right amount of pressure. Angus King of Maine might change his mind, and then there's Ron Wyden of Oregon who has joined Republicans to protest the NSA overreach into Americans' private lives. MaybeBill Nelsonof Florida could be persuaded to join with his Republican colleague Marco Rubio. What kind of arm-twisting could Republican leaders employ in the next few months, so that Majority Leader Mitch McConnell gets the votes? Politico listed two options discussed within the Senate : 1. Allow amendments to the Keystone bill, which would induce otherwise staunch opponents to soften their stance to the bill. They have rounded up the sixty-votes to pass the bill. Hoeven said possible amendments include bipartisan legislation reintroduced Tuesday by Sens. John Barrasso of Wyoming and Martin Heinrich of New Mexico that would speed up the decision-making process on applications to export liquefied natural gas. Imagine that: liberal US Senators have found points of rapprochement. Other amendment could include expanding fishing rights for New England fisheries. Perhaps subsidies for impoverished Americans living in states hard-hit but the recent cold fronts would induce, or force the same liberal New England delegation to reconsider their opposition to Keystone. If the freezing cold hitting the North Atlantic gets any worse, the Democratic delegation in those states (Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts) will have to explain to their constituents why they insist on forcing them to endure the cold without access to cheaper heating oil. 2. Attach Keystone to a must-pass bill, like appropriations, or another continuing resolution. If their current attempt to pressure Obama to sign the Keystone bill goes down in flames, Hoeven [of North Dakota] hopes to force the president's hand by attaching the measure to must-pass legislation. While Obama has been increasingly critical of the pipeline in recent months, Keystone backers are betting that the president will be willing to make a deal, particularly if they tie Keystone to appropriations legislation. If Democrats and Republicans stand behind a comprehensive, necessary bill, President Obama would find himself in a tight spot. If he vetoes appropriations or defense legislation, he will be the lone obstructionist, then embolden Congressional Democrats to join Republicans in an overriding veto. Despite the dire straits of backroom deals and wavering pledges, McConnell's veto-proof vote for Keystone is not unattainable.