Energy group pressures Klobuchar on pipeline vote
A group called Energy Citizens is canvassing Minnesota voters by phone, urging them to ask Sen. Amy Klobuchar to back approval of the Keystone XL pipeline.
The legislation is sponsored by Democratic Louisiana Sen. Mary Landrieu, who faces a runoff election against Republican Rep. Bill Cassidy in early December. Some Democrats believe passage of the bill, which would force approval of the controversial pipeline, would boost Landrieu's chances of winning.
Klobuchar has voiced support for the pipeline in the past.
But she quashed any hope energy groups had for her vote late last week when she told the Star Tribune last week that while her patience on approval of the pipeline is "wearing thin," she probably won't vote for the Landrieu bill.
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Energy Citizens is funded by the American Petroleum Institute, a national trade organization for oil and natural gas companies. A spokesman for Energy Citizens was not immediately available to talk about the calling campaign.
The Minnesota State Building and Construction Trades Council, which represents construction workers, is similarly encouraging Klobuchar to vote for the bill.
"We always try to encourage our leadership to be engaged," said St. Paul Council president Harry Melander. "We're asking people if they feel that [the pipeline] is important - as we do - to give the good Senator a call."
Landrieu needs 60 senators to support her bill to avoid a filibuster. Along with Klobuchar, Democrats from Delaware and Colorado are being courted for their support.