The White House Tuesday announced that President Obama would likely Veto a bill fast-tracking the Keystone XL project if it makes it to the president's desk.
"This legislation is not all too different than the legislation that was introduced in the last Congress." Said Josh Earnest, the White House Press Secretary.
He added, "If this bill passes this Congress the president wouldn't sign it either."
As Mitch McConnell, newly minted Republican Majority Leader of the Senate promised, speeding up the Keystone XL pipeline project was the first order of business and promised to send a bill to the presidents desk.
But President Obama is showing a determined and seemingly sustained effort to advance Climate Change goals with or without congressional support.
Recent Climate Change accomplishments include the Climate Deal With China, a $3 Billion Pledge to Global Climate Fund, New Ozone Regulations aimed at Smog reduction, and now a promised veto on the Keystone project.
2014 was certainly an impressive year for Environmentalists that even saw a breakthrough ending a years-long stalemate at the UN, culminating in a Deal at the Lima Climate Talks.
Now with Obama openly defying Republicans and even some Democrats, we can only hope that 2015 builds on the accomplishments of the last year.
For years, Environmentalists had been disappointed with the Obama administration, with claims that he didn't fight hard enough to push the 2009 Cap-and-Trade Legislation; but with the 2010 elections sweeping away the Democratic majority in the House, the stalled bill never had a chance of surviving the new Republican Majority.
Obama seems to have picked up some of his old pep though, I can only hope continues to fight the insanity on the right. He will certainly have his share of difficulties with Republicans now in control of both houses of congress and Oklahoma Senator James Inhofe, one of the Right's biggest climate deniers, set to take over the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee.
I do believe that if Obama continues to fight Republicans on Climate Change and defends his policies to the public, History will show his legacy on the Environment a lasting one.
We can only hope that 2016 is a better year for Democrats.