Kicking the can down the road and earning his money from Steyer.
Via Denver Post
Rarely has a dead-end vote caused this much trouble for U.S. Sen. Mark Udall.
But on Wednesday the Colorado Democrat was forced, once again, to pick sides in the fight over the Keystone XL pipeline — an issue that has stalked his re-election campaign for months.
A self-proclaimed moderate, Udall has tried to court both environmentalists and the energy industry as he attempts to win a second term against U.S. Rep. Cory Gardner, R-Yuma.
But this week that strategy hit a bump: the ambitions of U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu of Louisiana, another vulnerable Democrat up for re-election.
Landrieu needs the backing of the energy industry back home and so — in a show of loyalty — she used her clout as head of the Senate energy committee to force members of that panel, including Udall, to vote on the U.S.-Canada oil pipeline.
“The Keystone XL will allow the U.S. to import oil from a close ally, Canada, instead of nations like Iraq or Venezuela,” Landrieu said.
But lawmakers have called the move a show vote because it’s widely believed that Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid won’t allow a floor vote on the measure, which would fast-track construction of the oil pipeline.
“I think we need to be cautious in over-selling it here,” said U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, of the eventual 12-10 committee vote in favor of the pipeline.