More White House indecision

Did you hear?

The Obama administration said Friday it's extending its review of the Keystone XL pipeline – a procedural punt that could put off a decision until after midterms – unleashing howls of protest from both Republicans and Democrats who want the project approved.

“This delay is shameful,"Republican House Speaker John Boehner said in a statement.

"With tens of thousands of American jobs on the line and our allies in Eastern Europe looking for energy leadership from America, it’s clear there is little this administration isn’t willing to sacrifice for politics. This job-creating project has cleared every environmental hurdle and overwhelmingly passed the test of public opinion, yet it’s been blocked for more than 2,000 days."

Boehner also alluded to the crisis in Ukraine, saying "energy security sends signals across borders, and nations in the region hoping for greater American energy exports will no doubt take notice of this egregious decision."

New Hampshire Democratic Sen. Heidi Heitkamp also blasted the delay, calling it "absolutely ridiculous," while Sen. Mary Landrieu, D-La., called the delay "irresponsible, unnecessary and unacceptable," Fox News reported.

"By making it clear that they will not move the process forward until there is a resolution in a lawsuit in Nebraska, the administration is sending a signal that the small minority who oppose the pipeline can tie up the process in court forever," Landrieu said. "There are 42,000 jobs, $20 billion in economic activity and North America's energy security at stake."

Republican Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, in a statement reported by Politico, said the delay only shows "It is crystal clear that the Obama administration is simply not serious about American energy and American jobs."

"Here’s the single greatest shovel-ready project in America — one that could create thousands of jobs right away — but the President simply isn’t interested. Apparently radical activists carry more weight than Americans desperate to get back on the job."

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