Members of the Syracuse University campus said they strongly supported President Barack Obama’s use of his veto power on Tuesday to reject a bill that would allow the construction of the Keystone XL oil pipeline.

The Keystone XL oil pipeline bill was passed earlier this month by the Republican-controlled Senate and House of Representatives. If completed, the pipeline would have transported oil from tar sands in Canada to the Gulf of Mexico. Obama sent an official veto message to the U.S. Senate around 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday. It was his first time using veto power in five years, according to a CNN.com article.

“The presidential power to veto legislation is one I take seriously,” Obama said in the message. “But I also take seriously my responsibility to the American people.

“And because this act of Congress conflicts with established executive branch procedures and cuts short thorough consideration of issues that could bear on our national interest — including our security, safety and environment — it has earned my veto,” Obama said.

Jonathan Schmidt, a freshman in Divest SU and ESF, said he thinks the veto was a good thing. He said he was “happy that Obama stuck to his word and that he didn’t cave in to the money interests tied to the bill.”

“I think it sends a clear message of what the Republicans’ plans are when this is the first bill they decide to pass,” said Schmidt, a political science and geography dual major.

Advocates for the bill say the pipeline would create more American jobs, but opponents argue that the potential environmental risks are not worth it, according to the CNN.com article.

“Any jobs the pipeline would have created would have been temporary and the negative impacts on the environment far outweigh the few jobs that would have been created,” said Emma Edwards, who is also a member of Divest SU.

Edwards said she expected the veto based on Obama’s State of the Union address, adding that she is very happy about the decision.

“The veto sends a strong message that environmental issues are important and the use of fossil fuels are in the past — especially the oil from tar sands the Keystone pipeline would have used,” said Edwards.

Edwards said that Obama had the leverage to oppose this bill because of these negative impacts it would have had.

Obama’s veto can be overturned if both the Senate and the House achieve a two-thirds majority vote. However, Edwards said she doesn’t believe the veto will be overturned, reiterating that the negatives of the pipeline outweigh any benefits.

Colton Jones, a senior psychology major, said the veto was a step in the right direction.

“It gave me faith,” Jones said. “This veto means that Obama is listening to our voices and to the activists who have been protesting the pipeline.”

Published on February 25, 2015 at 12:01 am

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