House Republicans have threatened to hold up the payroll tax extension until Obama approves the pipeline.

“We’re going to do everything we can to make sure that this Keystone pipeline is in fact approved,” said House Speaker John Boehner on Fox News.

Keystone friendly members of Congress have received $41 million in contributions from Big Oil.

350.org founder (and Grist board member) Bill McKibben called on Congress to keep dirty money out politics.

Oil companies receive between $4 billion and $41 billion every year in subsidies.

“The most profitable corporations in the world do not need subsidies from the American people,” said Sen Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.). “We need to end Big Oil subsidies and tax breaks, and I'm going to introduce legislation to do it.”

Lili Molina, environmental justice director of the Energy Action Coaltion, spoke at the rally.

The green movement is the underdog when up against Big Oil's piles of cash. But the fact that the Keystone XL was thrown out shows that sometimes keeping your eye on the game can make all the difference.