Obama vetoes Keystone pipeline bill

President Obama on Tuesday vetoed legislation that would have approved the construction of the controversial Keystone XL pipeline.

"This act of Congress conflicts with established executive branch procedures and cuts short thorough consideration of issues that could bear on our national interest," Obama wrote in a brief letter to the Senate explaining his veto.

Republicans made passage of the bill one of their top priorities upon taking control of Congress in last year's midterms. The GOP has vowed to press ahead with the legislation, though the bill did not pass with enough votes to override the president's veto.

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