In a continuation of confrontational politics, the GOP-controlled Congress passed a Keystone XL bill it knew was veto bait, and President Obama has vetoed it. It’s extremely unlikely the GOP has enough votes for a veto override.
This doesn’t necessarily spell the end of Keystone XL. The White House emphasized the veto was not a judgment on the merits of the pipeline, but on congressional Republicans’ attempt to bypass the normal approval process. As CBS reports,
“[T]he White House said there was no ‘final disposition’ on whether a permit will be issued for the pipeline …. Rather, Mr. Obama is rebuffing a congressional attempt to circumvent the executive branch’s ‘longstanding process for evaluating whether projects like this are in the best interests of the country,’ Earnest said.”
Recent polling shows public support for the pipeline declining somewhat, although a plurality still favors it; on the other hand, a strong majority supports the Democratic position on adhering to the process, a factor weighing against the GOP being able to turn this veto into political ammunition in the 2016 campaign.
Arguments over the Keystone XL pipeline have been characterized by exaggerations and nonsense on both sides. Blocking the pipeline won’t reduce petroleum consumption, or even scuttle development of Canada’s tar sands. The Canadians would find other ways to get their oil to market, which likely would be more detrimental to the environment, such as an all-Canada pipeline through the Rockies or using rail transport. On the other hand, supporters have tried to portray the pipeline as a jobs engine, but after initial construction, the highly-automated pipeline will provide only about 50 permanent full-time jobs.
In terms of real issues, I think what’s most important is not routing the pipeline, if it’s built, through environmentally sensitive areas (e.g., Nebraska’s Sandhills Natural Monument). All pipelines leak, and spills must eventually be expected, which really needs to be given serious consideration prior to any approval decision 
or construction.
Photos:
(Top) These pipes aren’t going anywhere for now.
(Middle) The other kind of oil pipeline.
(Bottom) Rail isn’t as safe.
