Obama should choose jobs over partisanship

The problem for the president is that members of Congress, who must still face voters in future elections, can't afford to be so indifferent to the nation's most pressing problems. As a result, a bipartisan majority of U.S. senators has called on Obama to provide quick approval of the Keystone XL oil pipeline, urging him to “choose jobs, economic development and American energy security.”

The $7 billion pipeline would move oil from Canada to Texas refineries, passing through Oklahoma on the way. The Obama administration has blocked it twice, citing environmental concerns. Now Nebraska has rerouted its portion of the pipeline, resolving the last significant “environmental” issues raised by critics.

Continuing to block the pipeline won't prevent Canadian oil production. The only question is if U.S. customers will get the benefit, or Chinese interests.