Kansas Senators Decry Keystone Measure’s Rejection

Kansas U.S. Sens. Jerry Moran and Pat Roberts are predicting that the Senate will move quickly to approve the Keystone XL oil pipeline once fellow Republicans take control in January.

Moran and Roberts voted Tuesday evening for a measure approving the pipeline. However, it failed in the Democratic-controlled Senate on a 59-41 vote. The measure needed 60 votes to pass and go to Democratic President Barack Obama.

The proposed pipeline for transporting oil from Canada to Texas has faced strong opposition from environmentalists. But the state’s two Republican senators are vocal supporters.

The company behind the project already has a pipeline through Kansas.

Roberts said the Keystone measure failed because of “liberal obstructionists.”

Moran said it’s only a matter of time before the pipeline is approved by Congress.