President Obama, Congressional Republicans to Spar Over Pipeline

The ongoing instability in the world’s primary oil-producing region, coupled with Americans’ well-developed and insatiable need for oil-based fuel, has naturally led to an ongoing debate about domestic production in the U.S. While no one argues that a domestic oil supply is a good idea, those considering the environmental ramifications often point to the damage a pipeline and increased drilling would do. It is likely that the environmental argument is what is keeping President Obama wishing the Keystone XL pipeline would fade into the background until after the 2012 presidential election.

But Republicans certainly won’t allow that, especially as they see the opportunity to both advance their agenda of becoming less reliant on foreign energy sources and score political points. The Keystone XL pipeline would extend from Texas to Canada, would create both short-term and permanent jobs, and would increase the availability of oil to the U.S. If not for environmental concerns, it would likely already exist.

A recent report indicating that the pipeline fell squarely under the purview of Congress – which has the power to legislate on issues of international commerce – makes the proceedings all the more interesting, as U.S. presidents have typically taken sole responsibility for projects that spanned multiple countries. Obama has rejected the pipeline, but as much as he may want it to, the issue is not simply going to fade into the background. Notes House Speaker John Boehner, a Republican, "This is not the end of the fight. Republicans in Congress will continue to push this because it’s good for our country and it’s good for our economy and it’s good for the American people."