Keystone XL Pipeline And Payroll Tax Cuts [AUDIO]

The fate of the Keystone XL Pipeline is still yet to be determined. The political battle over extending the payroll tax cut has turned into a fight about the Keystone XL Pipeline. House Republicans have included moving up the proposed Keystone XL pipeline in a bill to extend the payroll tax cut, defying President  Obama's pledge to veto anything other than a stand-alone tax cut bill. A vote in the House is likely early next week. Senator Jon Tester disagrees with President Obama.

Tester says he supports the Keystone XL pipeline as long as property owner’s rights are maintained.

Congressman Denny Rehberg announced the inclusion of language he introduced in the House of Representatives has been added to a larger piece of legislation designed to prevent a Payroll Tax Increase on January 1, 2012.  Rehberg's legislation is a companion bill to S. 1932, introduced by Senator Dick Lugar to give the President 60 days to make a decision on the Keystone XL Pipeline.

The permit must contain strong and specific environmental protections and respect states’ rights.  The legislation does not dictate what decision the President could make – he could still choose to block this permit by publicly declaring that the Keystone XL Pipeline is not in the national interest.  It only requires that a decision be made in a timely fashion.