Boehner Gives Away Keystone Pipeline In Conference On Transportation Bill

Imagine John Boehner bending over in front of President Obama and Harry Reid and saying “I’m ready to compromise now.”  Figuratively speaking, he did it again. John Boehner’s weak leadership in the House has once again resulted in the Republicans giving away major priorities for little in return.  According to Fox News’ AP story, lawmakers reached a “compromise” on the transportation bill.  I immediately thought “how bad did we get screwed this time?”  And with good reason, as it turns out.  As usual, a John Boehner compromise means Democrats get what they want and the House leaders look like the doormats they are. As the price for the highway agreement, lawmakers said Republicans dropped a House-approved provision requiring the government to approve the proposed Keystone pipeline… ...Republicans also agreed to abandon language blocking the Environmental Protection Agency from regulating the toxic ash generated by coal-fired power plants, lawmakers said. The ash is used as an ingredient in some types of cement. And what, pray tell, did the Republicans drag out of the Democrats as part of the “compromise?”  Why, nothing short of some bike path funding and an agreement to cut the time of some environmental reviews of highway projects. [...]