House to vote on Keystone, Landrieu seeks action

In this photo taken Nov. 4, 2014, Sen. Mary Landrieu, D-La., acknowledges supporters at her election night headquarters in New Orleans. Republicans have promised her Senate opponent Rep. Bill Cassidy a seat on the Senate's energy committee if he defeats Landrieu in the state's runoff election next month. The move undercuts one of Landrieu's chief campaign arguments, that voters in the state with a robust oil and gas industry need her and her seniority on the committee. (AP Photo/Bill Haber) In this photo taken Nov. 4, 2014, Sen. Mary Landrieu, D-La., acknowledges supporters at her election night headquarters in New Orleans. Republicans have promised her Senate opponent Rep. Bill Cassidy a seat on the Senate's energy committee if he defeats Landrieu in the state's runoff election next month. The move undercuts one of Landrieu's chief campaign arguments, that voters in the state with a robust oil and gas industry need her and her seniority on the committee. (AP Photo/Bill Haber)

By Associated Press November 12, 2014 1 min read

WASHINGTON (AP) – Call it a high-stakes political poker game.

Democratic Sen. Mary Landrieu, facing an uphill fight to hold her seat in a Dec. 6 runoff, on Wednesday called for vote on approving the Canada-to-Texas Keystone XL pipeline project.

Within an hour, Republican leaders in the House announced that lawmakers would vote Thursday on a bill sponsored by her Republican rival, Rep. 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 that is opposed by environmental groups. Republicans insist that it will create jobs.