U.S. Capitol building (Photo: Architect of the Capitol)
Wisconsin’s two US Senators cast a split vote Tuesday night, as the chamber narrowly failed to approve the proposed Keystone XL oil pipeline.
The vote was 59 to 41 in favor, one vote short of the 60 needed to send the House-approved bill to President Obama’s desk. Wisconsin Republican Senator Ron Johnson voted in favor of the project, which would carry oil from Canada to Texas. Democrat Tammy Baldwin voted no.
Johnson said it would create construction jobs for Americans. By rejecting the project, he argued the US “needlessly irritated” Canada, while failing to help American consumers reduce their energy costs.
Baldwin said Congress has no business approving individual pipelines.
Other opponents said the line would cause oil spills and contaminate groundwater. President Obama has opposed the Keystone project, but did not say whether he would have vetoed the latest bill.