“This is not a political decision,” assistant secretary of Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs Kerri-Ann Jones said, regarding yesterday’s announcement that the State Department would be delaying their decision on the Keystone XL pipeline project until after the 2012 elections. She insisted that when it came to White House involvement, “there was no effort to influence our decision.”
Sure there wasn’t. Just as there was no political pressure from the White House when the EPA scrapped their dust regulations, or retreated from their smog regulations, or relaxed their Cross-State power plant regulations, or delayed their Boiler MACT rules. In each and everyone of these cases over the past year, scientific experts either decided to delay, scrap, or loosen earlier proposed regulations. The fact that the White House is nervous about the perception they are killing jobs had nothing to with it. Sure it didn’t.
Ever since Democrats got slaughtered at the polls in 2010, the White House has developed one go-to play when it comes environmental regulation: delay, delay, delay. President Obama knows he will need both the environmental movement’s money and big labor’s organization if he is to have a prayer in 2012. He can’t afford to alienate either constituency. In 2008, this was not a problem. Obama had no record to run on. He could be all things to all people. He is trying to be all things to all people again. And the uncertainty that lack of leadership is creating is killing the economy.
Around the Bigs
The Washington Post, Administration delays decision on oil pipeline: Bowing to political pressure from environmental activists, the State Department delayed final decision on the Keystone XL pipeline claiming they needed more time to asses an alternative route. The environmental assessment for the new route will take about 15 months, well past the 2012 election.
The Hill, Republican senators aim for supercommittee breakthrough: Sens. Pat Toomey, R-Pa., and Rob Portman, R-Ohio, members of the Super Congress, are trying to attract Democrats to their tax reform plan, which raises revenues by about $300 billion.
The Hill, White House agrees to hand over Solyndra documents to GOP: House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Fred Upton, R-Mich., confirmed that the White House had agreed to turn over some Solyndra related communications to Congress, but did not say if the White House had agreed to turnover all communications, or just some.
The New York Times, Sovereign Debt Turns Sour in Euro Zone: Bonds issued by now troubled European Union countries, like Greece and Italy, are the second bad bet European banks made in a row. They were also big bettors on U.S. mortgage backed securities. “There was encouragement from European authorities for banks to load up on more debt, because it was seen as safe,” Nicolas Veron, a researcher in Brussels tells The Times. “In hindsight, it was unwise risk management.”
The Wall Street Journal, Concern Rises for Federal Housing Administration: If the economy doesn’t recover soon, the Federal Housing Administration could run out money as more of the mortgages it backed go bad.
The San Francisco Chronicle, Man shot to death near Occupy Oakland camp: Occupy Oakland protesters say they are not to blame for the fatal shooting of a man just yards away from their encampment. Drug use was prevalent in the area before Occupy Oakland began. But Mayor Jean Quan has flip-flopped again. “The risks are too great for having an encampment out there,” Quan said. “It’s time for the encampment to end.”
The Burlington Free-Press, Shooting closes half of Occupy Burlington site: Police closed off half of the Occupy Burlington encampment as they investigated the shooting death of an occupier. No camping was allowed last night, but the city did not tear down the camp, avoiding a riot.
CBS Atlanta, Tuberculosis Breaks Out At Occupy Atlanta: The Fulton County Health Department confirmed Wednesday that residents at the homeless shelter where protesters have been occupying have contracted Tuberculosis.
The Oregonian, Mayor Sam Adams orders camps cleared at 12:01 a.m. Sunday: Citing the rise in crime around the encampments, Portland Mayor Sam Adams said he would shut down the camp this Sunday.
Campaign 2012
Perry: The Examiner‘s Byron York says Rick Perry has blown his chance to be the anti-Romney: “Among state Republicans, especially the social conservatives who make up a significant bloc of the GOP, opposition to former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney is as strong as ever. Perry had the chance to take advantage of those strong anti-Romney feelings, and he failed.”
Righty Playbook
Tod Kelly of The League of Ordinary Gentleman explains “how tribalism and self-identity force us to support Penn State, Herman Cain and Rick Perry.”
The Corner‘s Jonah Goldberg pushes back against claims that Perry’s debate gaffe will help his campaign: “His performance last night confirmed — with an exclamation point — the negative narrative of his entire campaign.”
RedState‘s Erick Erickson notes that Herman Cain’s chief of staff lied on national television and writes: “I still believe you can win. But to do so, you must fire your staff and start over.”
Lefty Playbook
Center for American Progress‘ Joe Romm calls Obama’s Keystone XL pipeline decision a “Stunning Triumph for the 99%.”
Salon
‘s Steve Kornacki says the new Crossroads GPS ads tying Elizabeth Warren to Occupy Wall Street is part of “Karl Rove’s Massachusetts culture war.”
Talking Points Memo‘s Brian Beutler posts a chart showing how the GOP Super Congress proposal would “slash benefits for low and middle income taxpayers to pay for a big tax cut that overwhelmingly benefits the rich.”
