GOP Wins On Keystone As Senate Agrees To Two Month Payroll Tax Cut Extension | TPMDC

GOP Wins On Keystone As Senate Agrees To Two Month Payroll Tax Cut Extension TPMDC

In a political hit for Democrats, Republicans insisted on and secured a provision that requires the Obama administration to either greenlight the Keystone XL oil pipeline or for President Obama to publicly nix it by declaring it not in the national interest. Sources indicate that Obama could deal with this requirement without forgoing a chance to revisit the issue after the election, as the administration originally planned.

Vote timing remains unclear, though lawmakers hope to pass this extenders package, and a separate measure to fund the government though the end of the fiscal year, in quick succession on Saturday morning or early afternoon. That will depend in part on House Republicans, who earlier Friday expressed deep reservations about replaying this fight so soon, at a time when Republicans are choosing their presidential nominee and Obama is out on the trail. It’s an unlikely outcome, but if they reject the agreement — and implicitly rebuke Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell — it would sink the deal, and send negotiators back to the drawing board.

This is clearly what happens when you make deals with blackmailers. When will they ever learn?