Bill Nelson, Potential Keystone Pipeline Convert?
November 14, 2014
Sunshine State News
Even before the new Senate is seated, the $8 billion Keystone XL Pipeline is a hair's-breadth from becoming a major triumph for its bipartisan supporters. All it needs is a commitment from two more on-the-fence Democratic senators -- and Florida's Bill Nelson is one of the targets.
Sen. Mary Landrieu, D-La., pushing for it hard against the wishes of President Obama and needing it to keep her Senate seat, told reporters Thursday some 60 senators have committed or will commit to the pipeline by the time the Senate votes as it is expected to do next Tuesday.
Landrieu says she is “confident” she can cobble together the 60 votes needed for a filibuster-proof majority in the upper chamber.
She said she even believes she can "bring around" Florida's Nelson to a "yes" pipeline vote. Earlier this year Nelson indicated he would vote "no" when the time came, but Landrieu believes she can appeal to his "sounder judgment" based on Florida's strong tourism-based ties to Canada.
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