While it was partly an arbitrary date, it looks like Congress will miss the Memorial Day deadline that many hoped would see renewal of the $1-a-gallon biodiesel tax incentive.

The measure is attached to a larger bill that would extend unemployment benefits, but Hoosier Ag Today reports that it won’t happen until after the holiday recess:

Representative Stephanie Herseth Sandlin, Blue Dog Coalition co-chairwoman, said Thursday that given the timetable the House is on – they’ll have to grapple with the tax extenders measure after Memorial Day. Herseth Sandlin says part of the problem is leadership was shy of the votes needed to pass the bill.

Remember, it was just Tuesday that U.S. House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer promised that “we will have enough votes.” Somebody better learn to count.