For the third time in his presidency, President Barack Obama exercised his veto power on Tuesday in order to stop a bill that would have authorized the construction of the Keystone XL oil pipeline.

Despite the president's continued threat to veto the controversial bill, the Republican-controlled Congress voted to pass the legislation, arguing that it would create thousands of jobs for Americans. However, environmentalists point out that the pipeline would cause devastating damage to the environment and contribute to climate change.

President Obama has also noted that the construction of the pipeline would only increase the growth of temporary American jobs, and just 35-50 permanent jobs.

"The presidential power to veto legislation is one I take seriously," Obama said in his veto message to the Senate, according to USA Today. "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."

In response, Republicans blasted Obama.

"The president's veto of the Keystone jobs bill is a national embarrassment," said Republican House Speaker John Boehner, reports Reuters. "The president is just too close to environmental extremists to stand up for America's workers. He's too invested in left-fringe politics to do what presidents are called on to do, and that's put the national interest first."

According to Congressional Republicans, the majority of Americans support the Keystone project, which would run from almost 1200 miles from Canada to the Gulf of Mexico.  

"This project has been awaiting approval for more than 2,300 days. The Nebraska Supreme Court struck down the challenge against it, 58 percent of Americans said they support it, and a bipartisan majority in both chambers of Congress approved it," said Tennessee Rep. Diane Black earlier this month, reports CNN.

However, environmentalists argue that the pipeline would bring heavy tar sands oil from Canada across the middle of the United Sates to a port on the Gulf of Mexico. In turn, this will pollute the environment.