Dan Coats interviewed on CNN about Keystone Pipeline

Sen. Dan Coats, R-Ind., appeared on CNN Tuesday. Right off the bat, Coats was tasked with answering the question, “Do we really need the Keystone Pipeline?”

Yes, he said.

“We’re able to create more energy independence by ourselves,” Coats said. “We know all the conflict going on in the Middle East ... There’s nothing wrong with having more independence.”

Even though the United States is already 75 percent independent, the conflicts in the Middle East and South America are reason enough to seek 100 percent oil ?independence, Coats said.

“This has support on a bipartisan basis,” Coats said. “I think the president’s going to have to keep that in mind before he just strikes a veto on this.”

The pipeline bill cleared the Senate and is awaiting an executive veto vote.

Hannah Alani