Lawmakers to debate highway bill without Keystone, coal ash

Lawmakers headed Wednesday toward a last-minute deal on a highways funding bill that excludes the Keystone XL oil pipeline, the latest setback for Republicans intent on overturning President Barack Obama's plan to delay the project until next year.

Sen. James Inhofe, R-Okla., the top Republican on the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, told reporters that he expected the Keystone XL language to be cut out of a final bill that was expected to be made public as soon as Wednesday evening.