Romney pounces on expected Keystone decision

“If Americans want to understand why unemployment in the United States has been stuck above 8 percent for the longest stretch since the Great Depression, decisions like this one are the place to begin,” Romney said, echoing long-standing GOP assertions that the pipeline will create thousands of jobs and boost the economy.

The Republican presidential hopefuls pounced Wednesday on reports that the State Department will reject TransCanada’s Keystone XL permit.

{mosads}”This is a stunningly stupid thing to do,” Newt Gingrich said at a town-hall meeting in Warrenville, S.C. Gingrich called on Congress to overrule Obama’s decision, a move that House and Senate Republicans are considering.

Rick Perry echoed GOP frustration with the pending decision.

“It doesn’t surprise me but it’s again — the president’s focused more on the next election than on the next generation,” he said, according to Fox News.

Under a payroll tax cut bill enacted into law in December, Obama has until Feb. 21 to make a decision on the pipeline, which would carry oil sands crude from Alberta, Canada, to refineries on the Gulf Coast.

A source closely following the issue told The Hill Wednesday that the State Department will reject the permit, but allow TransCanada to reapply.