Maybe there are "some things" that money, just can't buy ...
Senate attempt to override Keystone veto falls short
by Jennifer A. Dlouhy, Washington Bureau, expressnews.com -- March 4, 2015
WASHINGTON — Congressional champions of Keystone XL failed Wednesday to overcome President Barack Obama’s veto of legislation authorizing the pipeline, but they are not giving up their crusade for the $8 billion project.
The latest defeat for the pipeline’s supporters, which was expected, came when the Senate fell four votes shy of the 66 needed to override Obama’s veto.
[...]
Supporters of the $8 billion TransCanada Corp. project insisted Wednesday they will not stop fighting for the pipeline. Sen. John Hoeven, R-N.D., who sponsored the vetoed bill, has floated adding Keystone-approving language to “must pass” legislation funding some of the federal government. That would raise the stakes of another veto.
[...]
“This pipeline is not in America’s national interest,” said Sen. Ed Markey, D-Mass. “It is not in the best interests of our climate.”
Well said, Senator Markey.
Boo, Hiss! Would-be hostage-taker Hoeven.
That Veto-override Fail by the Senate was hardly a given -- what with several well-greased Dems, deciding to side with the GOP -- and their well-financed "friends."
Override of Obama’s Keystone Veto Fails in Senate
by Amy Harder, wsj.com -- March 4, 2015
[...]
Eight Democrats joined all Republicans in voting to override the president.
[...]
Wednesday’s vote marked the first time the Senate has tried to override a veto since Mr. Obama has been in office. Including the latest veto on the Keystone bill, Mr. Obama has invoked this presidential power three times since 2009. His other two vetoes were on relatively minor bills: one involving legislation dealing with the notarization of mortgages, and the second rejecting a spending bill for technical reasons. The House tried, but failed, to override both of those vetoes, congressional records show.
Democrats opposed to the project took to the floor before the vote to criticize the project for its environmental risks. They also said the company behind it, TransCanada Corp., faces permitting challenges in states the pipeline would traverse, which cast doubt on when -- or even if -- the pipeline will be built.
DKos member
dturnbull had a post today introducing a new site which addresses the Big Myths -- that Big Money and Big Oil have been promoting, about their
Big Fail ...
Introducing: BigOilTalkingPoints.com
by dturnbull -- Mar 04, 2015
[...]
But TransCanada and their friends in the oil industry have spent millions of dollars pushing these talking points over the years and we’re starting to (almost) feel sorry for them. After all, when the facts aren’t on your side, the battle is that much harder.
So, being the generous souls that we are, we thought we’d save the industry a few million dollars and create a website that can generate their requisite talking points for them! We are proud to introduce: BigOilTalkingPoints.com!
[...]
Some times when you "got money to burn" -- you grow accustom to thinking you can "just buy" what you need -- if you just grease enough wheels ...
TransCanada Corp
opensecrets.org
2014 Total Lobbying Expenditures: $1,380,000
Subtotal for Subsidiary TransCanada Pipelines: $1,380,000
TransCanada Corp Lobbying by Industry
Industry [2014] Total
Oil & Gas $1,380,000
Let's hope that this is not one of those 'pay-to-play' times.
BigOilTalkingPoints.com. Check it out.