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Democratic leader blocks Senate vote on Keystone

WASHINGTON (AP) — Senate Democrats are refusing to let supporters of the Keystone XL oil pipeline to use an energy efficiency bill as a vehicle to attempt winning congressional approval for the controversial project.

Majority Leader Harry Reid used a parliamentary move Wednesday to block a Republican amendment on the pipeline as well as a measure to prevent the Environmental Protection Agency from imposing new greenhouse gas regulations on coal-burning power plants.

The proposed Canada-U.S. pipeline would cross Montana, South Dakota and Nebraska. The Obama administration announced last month it was delaying a decision on the pipeline's fate indefinitely. Reid has offered supporters a vote on a stand-alone bill that deals with only the pipeline.

All 45 Senate Republicans and as many as a dozen Democrats support the project. Environmental groups oppose it.

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