A controversial proposal to build a Canada-to-Texas oil pipeline, once apparently on the verge of winning U.S. government approval, was put on hold and now may be outright rejected. Sen. Bernie Sanders and others had raised questions about conflicts of interest in the way an environmental study was conducted for the State Department, which must review the pipeline project because it would cross an international border. "I strongly believe that the more the American people learn about this project, the more they will understand that it would be disastrous for our environment and for our economy," Sanders said after he convinced State to conduct the in-house review. Then, Republicans in Congress tacked a provision onto a year-end tax deal in a bid to force President Obama to decide the fate of the pipeline within 60 days.  Signals from the White House and State Department are that the pressure tactic could backfire. "I urge President Obama to call the Republicans' bluff and reject the dangerous Keystone XL project," Sanders said.

Read more about it.