House GOP proposes bill removing Obama from Keystone decision

House Republicans introduced a bill on Monday that would remove the need for President Obama to approve the northern portion of the Keystone XL oil sands pipeline, continuing GOP demands that Obama allow that portion to proceed just as he has approved the construction of the southern portion.

"All I am saying with my legislation is, Mr. President, please treat the northern portion of the pipeline in the same manner as you treated the southern portion. You praised the construction for the southern route but keep changing the rules for the part that crosses the border," the bill's sponsor, Rep. Lee Terry (R-Neb.) said.

"We need consistency, but more importantly, we need to take the politics out of the debate."

The bill, H.R. 6164, has 46 Republican co-sponsors, and Democratic Rep. Jim Matheson (Utah). Republicans in particular have argued that allowing Keystone to be built would help U.S. job creation at a time when the job gains have slowed over the course of the year.

"During these bleak economic times and with our jobless rate remaining steady at 8.2 percent, it is time to release the political grip on the Keystone pipeline and begin to put Americans back to work," Terry said. "The rules have been followed, all of the required environmental reviews have been conducted and the president has praised the work on the southern route of the pipeline but continues to stall and deny the presidential permit for the northern route. It is inconceivable."

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