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WASHINGTON DC - Still smarting from a decision by President Obama to reject construction the Keystone XL oil pipeline, Congressman Denny Rehberg wants to move ahead without the president's approval. Rehberg sent a letter to a committee urging members to add a rider to a final bill extending the Payroll Tax Relief to the end of the year that would allow construction to begin.

"This isn't a time to sit on the fence and hope this pipeline will build itself," said Rehberg. "We need this energy infrastructure and the jobs it will create today."

Rehberg claims the construction project would create thousands of jobs, including at least 1,200 in Montana. His letter encourages construction to begin on the pipeline after more than three years of review which would allow states like Montana, which already approved the project, to let the private sector start creating jobs.

Senators Jon Tester and Max Baucus, like Rehberg, expressed disappointment after President Obama rejected the proposal.

Here is a copy of the letter:

Dear Chairman Camp and Chairman Baucus,

As you and your fellow conferees negotiate an extension of the payroll tax cut, I strongly urge you to include language that would congressionally approve the federal permit for the Keystone XL pipeline. As you know, members on both sides of the aisle and both sides of the Capitol have indicated time and time again that they want construction on the pipeline to move forward - and now is the time to act.

The Keystone XL pipeline project has been under review for more than three years now and will create thousands of jobs around the country, including 1,200 jobs in Montana. It's time to let America get to work.

I've expressed my disappointment in the President's decision to reject the Keystone's federal permit for purely political reasons, and in light of his action, the inclusion of this language to congressionally approve the permit is absolutely necessary - both to shore up our energy infrastructure and begin creating jobs today.

Thank you for your consideration of this important matter. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact my office.