reagan-was-a-horrible-president:

The last 3 years, explained in one cartoon.

(Source: saucylark)

Sweet victory!

The Obama administration has decided that it will not issue a permit before Feb. 21 for the controversial Keystone XL oil pipeline from Canada, according to people with knowledge of the decision.

The announcement, which could come as early as Wednesday, comes in response to a 60-day deadline Congress imposed in late December on the decision-making process for the permit as part of a deal to extend a payroll-tax break and unemployment benefits for two months.  

Today’s decision, expected from the State Department, would make official what the administration has said from the outset: that under current law, it cannot accelerate the permitting process, especially in light of the need for additional environmental reviews of a new path for the pipeline through Nebraska.

(via Keystone XL pipeline: Obama administration to deny Keystone XL oil pipeline permit - latimes.com)

I know I find this hard to stomach.

Standing in the very same room in which landmark laws like the Clean Air Act were written, environmental and public health advocates expressed their dismay Tuesday as House Republicans voted to pass what the advocates called a “poisoned” and “preposterous” payroll tax bill.

Their key concerns: Two extraneous provisions that would delay EPA’s regulations on industrial boilers and expedite the controversial tar sands pipeline project known as Keystone XL. The rider-laden bill is not expected to pass the Senate.

“Time and time again, House Republicans have added ‘poison pill’ riders to must-pass legislation,” Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.), chairman of the Environment and Public Works Committee, said during yesterday’s press conference in the EPW Committee Room. “This time these are really poison riders — because they are in essence saying we will have more poison in our atmosphere.”

read more on HuffPost