Gov. Mary Fallin has called on President Obama to approve construction of the Keystone XL oil pipeline that would carry oil from Canada to the Texas Gulf Coast.
A portion of the pipeline from Cushing to the Gulf Coast is complete and operating, however the northern portion requires presidential approval because it crosses an international border.
"This one portion of the pipeline is on track to generate over $15 million annually in tax revenue for Oklahoma," Fallin said. "That's a big boost for our state, with 85 percent of that money going to public schools. If the whole project is approved, the volume of oil flowing through Oklahoma would increase by 75 percent."
Fallin, a Republican, issued the call Saturday in the Republican response to the president's weekly radio address.
Both the U.S. House and Senate have approved completion of the pipeline and sent the bill to the president. However the White House has said it is awaiting a State Department review and Obama has threatened a veto.
Neither the House nor the Senate passed the bill by enough votes to override a veto.
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