Heineman Says Nebraska Swayed State Dept. Decision

LINCOLN, NE - Gov. Dave Heineman says the U.S. State Department decision to reassess the route of the proposed Keystone XL oil pipeline was due largely to pressure from Nebraskans.
 
Heineman told the Associated Press Thursday that he met with a U.S. State Department official on October 18, and was given "a clear indication that they were paying attention to what we were doing in Nebraska."

Heineman said he called a special session less than a week later to try to address pipeline concerns at the state level and to pressure federal officials to act.

The Republican governor called it "an exceptional moment for Nebraskans," and a sign that their voices have been heard.