This past Tuesday, President Obama vetoed the legislation for the Keystone Pipeline XL. In doing so, he exercised his veto power for the first time in five years and realized his threat to reject the proposal, which is embraced by many Republicans but opposed by environmentalists.

According to CNN, advocates of the bill say that the construction of the Keystone pipeline would create American jobs, but opponents argue the potential environmental risks aren't worth it. Let's look at some facts. Forbes reports that if the Keystone XL pipeline were constructed, it would transport about 800,000 barrels of Canadian and Bakken oil to U.S. refineries for processing into fuels and consumer products.

However, the Financial Post reports that extracting oil from Canadian oil sands does require more energy, and results in 17% more greenhouse gas emissions from oil well to tailpipe than a traditional barrel of oil refined in the United States.

Furthermore, though the bill claims to support up to 42,100 jobs, some of the jobs would be "a continuity of existing jobs in current or new locations." The State Department has estimated that when the project opens, it will only require "approximately 50 total employees in the United States: 35 permanent employees and 15 temporary contractors."

In his brief veto letter to the Senate, Obama wrote, "Through this bill, the United States Congress attempts to circumvent longstanding and proven processes for determining whether or not building and operating a cross-border pipeline serves the national interest."

He continued, "The Presidential power to veto legislation is one I take seriously. But I also take seriously my responsibility to the American people. And because this act of Congress conflicts with established executive branch procedures and cuts short thorough consideration of issues that could bear on our national interest - including our security, safety, and environment - it has earned my veto."

House Speaker John Boehner called the veto a "national embarrassment." He stated, "It's embarrassing when Russia and China are plowing ahead on two massive pipelines and we can't get this one no-brainer of a project off the ground. The president is just too close to environmental extremists to stand up for America's workers."

However, Senator Edward Markey of Massachusetts congratulated Obama's veto, stating, "Vetoing this pipeline is a victory for the climate and common sense, but it won't stop the pipeline of bad policies from Congressional Republicans from flowing to the president's desk. Thankfully, President Obama is standing on the right side of history and is unafraid to wield the power of his veto pen...

We should not help some of the dirtiest oil in the world to be funneled through our country like a straw, just so much of it can be exported to foreign nations. That is a bad deal for our country, and a dangerous proposition for our climate."