June 19, 2013 03:32 PM UTC

Why does Gardner think Obama will approve Keystone Pipeline in exchange for greenhouse gas regs?

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• by: Jason Salzman

(Promoted by Colorado Pols)

Nothing wrong with a Congressman guessing on what President Obama might do.

But Rep. Cory Gardner's speculation Saturday, on a national Voice of America show, that Obama will approve the Keystone pipeline later this year in exchange for a "regulatory action on greenhouse gasses" deserves media scrutiny.

The radio host apparently didn't have the inclination to ask Gardner about his sources for the intel about Obama (presumably he has at least two such sources, and they're not talk-radio hosts).

Neither was Gardner asked, more generally, for a ray of light into why he thinks Obama might do these things.

This leaves the door wide open for some journalist to ask Gardner for the substance behind his Keystone assertions. 

Here's more of Gardner's thoughts on the topic:

GARDNER: You know, I actually think that the president will approve the pipeline. I think that sometime later in the fall of 2013 that the president will approve the pipeline. Now, I think there will be a trade-off, because he does have a significant number of his supporters that oppose the pipeline. So I think there is going to be some kind of a quid pro quo, so to speak, — an action that the president will take to try to say, “Well, all right. I’ve approved the Keystone pipeline. I’m also doing this” to try to appease or satisfy the people who [are] opposed to the approval of the pipeline. What that will be? My guess is it will be some kind of a regulatory action on greenhouse gases that could make it even more difficult to develop energy in this country. But I do think he wil approve it, but it’s going to come with something.