The House of Representatives on Friday passed legislation giving the makers of the Keystone pipeline the go-ahead to build the fourth and final section of the oil transportation system. The House has already sanctioned the construction of the XL portion of the pipeline eight times but today it passed language identical to a bill under consideration in the Senate by a vote of 252-161. The Democratically-controlled upper chamber has long declined to vote on the matter but had a change of heart on Wednesday after Sen. Mary Landrieu of Louisiana begged her colleagues to immediately bring the legislation to the floor.
@highlight
The House today passed a bill by a vote of 252-161 with identical language to legislation under consideration in the Senate
@highlight
Sen. Mary Landrieu of Louisiana is begging her Democratic colleagues to approve construction of Keystone XL next Tuesday in a bid to get reelected
@highlight
Her Senate seat hangs in the balance after neither she nor her closest opponent met state requirements last week and will now face off Dec. 6
@highlight
GOP Rep. Bill Cassidy is polling 16 points above her and is expected to win
@highlight
Obama has not said whether he will veto the Keystone bill but the White House has said they have a 'dim view' of the sudden legislative push
It now awaits a vote in the @placeholder, scheduled for next Tuesday, giving Landrieu a few more days to round up the 60 votes she needs to overcome a filibuster.