Major Stumbling Block to Transportation Bill May be Removed

In a promising sign for the negotiation and passage of a comprehensive transportation bill, the GOP is hinting it may be willing to part with demands to include a permit for the Keystone XL oil pipeline in the final bill, reports Ben Geman.

1 minute read

May 17, 2012, 1:00 PM PDT

By Jonathan Nettler @nettsj


In negotiations to reconcile the House approved transportation funding measure, which grants a permit to TransCanada's pipeline, and the bipartisan approved Senate bill, which does not, Geman reports that Republicans "appear unlikely to draw a line in the sand [on Keystone XL] that jeopardizes the infrastructure legislation."

Of course, the GOP is not bending on the issue out of the goodness of their hearts, they see it as a political weapon that can be put to good use throughout the campaign season.
"The overall Republican conference position is not to sink the conference report over [Keystone XL], however, as keeping that issue alive through the elections is also acceptable," an oil industry source told The Hill.

"Some other Capitol Hill sources similarly suggested that Republicans won't allow the Keystone provision - which fell short of the 60 Senate backers needed in a recent vote - to derail talks over the bill, which extends popular transportation and infrastructure programs."

Wednesday, May 16, 2012 in The Hill

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

July 2, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Aerial view of town of Wailuku in Maui, Hawaii with mountains in background against cloudy sunset sky.

Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly

Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.

July 1, 2025 - Honolulu Civil Beat

White and purple sign for Slow Street in San Francisco, California with people crossing crosswalk.

San Francisco Suspends Traffic Calming Amidst Record Deaths

Citing “a challenging fiscal landscape,” the city will cease the program on the heels of 42 traffic deaths, including 24 pedestrians.

July 1, 2025 - KQED

Blue and silver Amtrak train at small station.

Amtrak Rolls Out New Orleans to Alabama “Mardi Gras” Train

The new service will operate morning and evening departures between Mobile and New Orleans.

July 3 - New Orleans City Business

Large spinning swing ride at Chicago's Navy Pier.

The Subversive Car-Free Guide to Trump's Great American Road Trip

Car-free ways to access Chicagoland’s best tourist attractions.

July 3 - Streetsblog Chicago

Aerial view of downtown San Antonio, Texas at night with rotating Tower of the Americas in foreground.

San Antonio and Austin are Fusing Into one Massive Megaregion

The region spanning the two central Texas cities is growing fast, posing challenges for local infrastructure and water supplies.

July 3 - Governing