The Associated Press is reporting President Barack Obama Tue., Feb. 24, rejected a bill to approve construction of the Keystone XL oil pipeline. This was the third time Obama has wielded his veto power during his presidency. Obama offered no indication of whether he will eventually issue a permit for the pipeline. The president instead chose to reassert his authority to make the decision himself, rebuffing GOP lawmakers who will control both the House and Senate for the next two years. House Speaker John Boehner said Republicans were “not even close” to giving up the fight. He called the veto a “national embarrassment.” The pipeline would connect the tar sands of Canada with refineries on the Texas Gulf Coast that specialize in processing heavy crude oil. The construction of the pipeline has become a flashpoint in the U.S. debate over environmental policy and climate change. Read the full Associated Press story in the New York Post.