Keystone XL pipeline to take first Republican priority next year

In this Feb. 1, 2012 file photo, miles of pipe ready to become part of the Keystone Pipeline are stacked in a field near Cushing, Okla. AP

Alexander Panetta The Canadian PressA showdown over the Keystone XL pipeline is set for early in the new year, with the Canadian oil project having been anointed as the No. 1 priority of the new Republican-dominated Congress.

A Keystone XL bill will be the first item in the Senate after the new Congress convenes on Jan. 6, the next leader of the chamber, Republican Mitch McConnell, announced Tuesday.

McConnell also said he’ll allow amendments to the bill. That means it could become a venue for horse-trading, as lawmakers from different parties pack it with their own priorities, and increase its chances of becoming law.

“We’ll hope that senators on both sides will offer energy-related amendments, but there’ll be no effort to try to micromanage the amendment process,” McConnell said.

“And we’ll move forward and hopefully be able to pass a very important, job-creating bill early in the session.”

DM Runs Shoplifting Life Of Controversial GOP Elizabeth Lauten

Elizabeth Lauten

Ashley Collman and Mia De Graaf and Kieran Corcoran | MailOnline

• Elizabeth Lauten resigned from her position working for a Republican after criticizing the first daughters in an inflammatory Facebook post
• Lauten called Sasha, 13, and Malia Obama, 16, 'classless' for their clothes and attitude at the annual White House turkey pardoning 
• Court records indicate Lauten, 31, was arrested for shoplifting from a department store at the age of 17 
• Was also ticketed for speeding and running a red light in Virginia at 19
• White House spokesman Josh Earnest responded to Lauten's comments on Monday, saying the first daughters should be off-limits to criticism

It has been revealed that Elizabeth Lauten, the former GOP staffer who called Sasha and Malia Obama 'classless,' was herself arrested for shoplifting as a teen. The GOP staffer who was forced to resign today after calling the first daughters 'classless' is now being exposed as a hypocrite.

Elizabeth Lauten, 31, stepped down from her job as communications director for a Republican representative after her Facebook diatribe against Sasha and Malia Obama's behavior and dress at the annual Turkey pardoning sparked outrage online.

Evidence has now emerged indicating Lauten didn't exactly practice what she preached when she was a teen, growing up out of the public eye in North Carolina.

Republican rep apologizes after calling out Malia and Sasha Obama on facebook

A GOP staffer has apologized after calls were made for her to be sacked following a post she made on Facebook on Thursday November 27th calling president Obama's 16 year old Malia and 13 year old Sasha 'classless teenagers with no good role models' because of the outfits they wore to accompany their dad to the the turkey pardoning ceremony at the White House(her post left) .

After heavy backlash yesterday, with many asking for her to be sacked, Elizabeth Lauten, the communications director for U.S. Rep. Stephen Fincher apologized for her comments (right)
 

 Elizabeth Lauten