Gov. Bob McDonnell's request that the General Assembly delay action on uranium mining couldn't come at a better time — for the Obama administration.
McDonnell wants the Assembly to leave more time for careful study before lifting a ban on uranium mining in Virginia. A lot of money and a lot of jobs are at stake, but McDonnell wants to make sure the environmental and health consequences don't outweigh those gains. Further study is needed, he says.
That's precisely the view taken by the Obama administration about the Keystone XL pipeline, which — like uranium mining — is fiercely opposed by environmental interests. Congressional Republicans pushed Obama to decide on approval of the pipeline quickly. So Obama did — and refused to approve it. The issue needs further study, he believes.
Republicans are blasting Obama for postponing or killing jobs on a shovel-ready project and leaving the U.S. more dependent on foreign energy supplies. They may be right. But putting off uranium mining in Virginia does the same thing. So far, the GOP is studiously ignoring that inconvenient side of the issue.
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