House to Vote on Keystone, Landrieu Seeks Action

WASHINGTON (AP/STAFF) � Call it a high-stakes political poker game. Democratic Senator Mary Landrieu, facing an uphill fight to hold her seat in a December 6 runoff, on Wednesday called for a vote on approving the Canada-to-Texas Keystone XL pipeline project. The southern portion of the pipeline already runs through eastern Smith County and other portions of East Texas. Within an hour, Republican leaders in the House announced that lawmakers would vote today on a bill sponsored by her Republican rival, Representative Bill Cassidy, to build the pipeline. It remains to be seen whether the Democratic-led Senate will vote. President Barack Obama has delayed a decision on the project, which is opposed by environmental groups. Republicans insist that it will create jobs.