In December, Congressional Republicans forced President Obama to make a decision within 60 days on whether to approve or reject Canada’s offer to build the Keystone XL pipeline all the way through the U.S. and down to the Gulf of Mexico. The Obama administration claims that three years has not been enough time to fully evaluate the environmental impact of the project. Nebraska Rep. Lee Terry says that is “political bull” and explains why that excuse from Obama runs contrary to recent statements from the State Department. Rep. Terry discusses the ecological issues involved with the pipeline and has some more choice comments for pipeline critics who claim the resources in the pipeline would end up in China anyway.
Archives for January 18, 2012
‘We Lost This Battle in August’
On Wednesday, House Republicans approved a measure to reject an extension of the debt ceiling. But thanks to the debt ceiling deal from last summer, the vote is largely symbolic. South Carolina Rep. Mick Mulvaney says today’s gesture doesn’t give him much solace because Republicans “gave up” on the debt ceiling battle last summer and essentially handed President Obama a free pass on the current $1.2 trillion extension request. Mulvaney further explains why he believes the only real solution to the crisis was to reject any debt ceiling increases last year. He also addresses critics who say his approach would have devastated the U.S. credit rating.
No Plan to Tackle Debt
On Wednesday, the House of Representatives passed a resolution to block President Obama’s request for a $1.2 trillion hike of the debt ceiling. But the Senate is not expected to follow suit and, even if it did, neither chamber could stop President Obama from vetoing that rejection. Oklahoma Rep. James Lankford is a member of the House Budget Committee. He explains what statement can be made through this vote, what Republicans can do this year since they’re powerless to stop the additional borrowing and what kind of spending cuts his party is prepared to make.
Three Martini Lunch 1/18/12
Greg Corombos of Radio America and Jim Geraghty of National Review enjoy watching the Occupy movement lose the last shreds of any credibility. They also fear Mitt Romney is not going to have a clear explanation about why he paid taxes at a 15 percent rate. And we chuckle as Newt Gingrich asks all other conservatives in the race to quit so he can take on Romney.