Pipeline advocates in the Senate, including several Democrats on the ballot next fall, hold a clear majority. They also may command more than the 60 votes needed to overcome blocking tactics by opponents, but appear to be short of the two-thirds majority that would be needed to override any veto by President Barack Obama.
Democratic Sen. Mary Landrieu of Louisiana chairs the Senate Energy Committee and says she will seek a vote in a few weeks. Republicans want the vote to occur as part of the debate on energy-efficiency legislation or as a stand-alone bill.