Landrieu to talk Keystone in White House meeting

Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-La.) said Wednesday that she plans to bring up the Keystone XL pipeline during a meeting with President Obama Wednesday evening.

Obama will host the Senate Democrats for the meeting, which is expected to last for roughly an hour.

{mosads}Landrieu told reporters Wednesday that the oil-sands project will be one of the issues she raises with the president.

“I’m going to talk to him about Keystone and liquefied natural gas exports,” Landrieu said.

She added that while she doesn’t “personally agree with the president on everything” the partnership between Obama and the Senate is a “good” one.

Landrieu recently held a vote to approve Keystone in the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, which she chairs.

The bill passed out of committee with ease, but a vote on Keystone in the full chamber isn’t expected any time soon.

The GOP has blasted Landrieu for holding what they are calling a “show vote” on the pipeline, which would carry crude from Alberta oil sand to Gulf refineries.

Sen. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) who sits on the committee, called it a “cheerleading exercise” for Landrieu.

Landrieu is facing a tough reelection battle against challenger Rep. Bill Cassidy (R-La.), but has defended her position as chairwoman of Senate Energy, touting her influence and energy chops that she says will be critical to her state.