Congress: GOP retreat -- or trap -- on payroll tax cut?

“In a major tactical shift, House Republican leaders Monday said they would sign off on a payroll tax cut extension that is not paid for, marking an attempt to both pressure Democrats and get the issue behind them,” Roll Call reports. “Bruised from a months-long battle to pay for the $100 billion payroll tax holiday, Republicans are acknowledging that they would rather give in on a straight extension than fight on for spending cuts that Senate Democrats will not accept.”

More: “A bill from GOP leaders could come to the House floor as soon as Wednesday. Though Democrats immediately groused, Republicans are hoping they will find such an offer impossible to shun.” Democrats want an unemployment benefits extension and the Medicare Doc fix included.

The Hill’s headline: “Republicans retreat on tax cut.”

“With an end-of-February deadline approaching, House Republican leaders said today they may push a vote this week on extending the payroll tax cut -- but not unemployment benefits or a delay of cuts in fees to doctors who treat Medicare patients,” USA Today notes.

Yet the New York Times notes, "By separating the payroll tax from jobless benefits, Republicans have somewhat boxed in Democrats, forcing them to decide whether to accept a stand-alone tax cut that touches nearly all working Americans — and is generally more popular than the additional unemployment insurance — or hold out for a package that covers all three programs, at a cost of about $160 billion."

Discuss this post

The big question is, can the GOP get enough of their members to vote for it. If not, they will have to rely on Democrats...who want to see the unemployment benifits and the extention of the doctor payments.

Then they have to get the support of the Senate, who could add unemployment and the doc fix, and then send it back to the House.

  • 3 votes
Reply#1 - Tue Feb 14, 2012 9:50 AM EST

the pubs really want that taxpayer pipe line so their koch brothers can sell all that oil to china?

elizabeth warren is right, no one becomes rich without the tax payers!

its funny that canada doesnt pipe it through their own country and ship it to china?

oh, thats right, the canadian people do not want it!!!

  • 2 votes
Reply#2 - Tue Feb 14, 2012 10:24 AM EST

kr-2875346

Our Prime Minister has just returned from China with a couple of baby Pandas. You can be sure that a pipeline from Alberta to the shore of British Columbia was discussed.

  • 3 votes
#2.1 - Tue Feb 14, 2012 12:14 PM EST

Happy V-Day, Ideology! I would imagine the Canadian government is working on a another pipeline plan?

  • 2 votes
#2.2 - Tue Feb 14, 2012 12:33 PM EST

i would bet on there being two pipelines built,canadians against the pipe lines will be out numbered by the canadians that know what side their bread is buttered on.that glut of oil will not sit in alberta when we have this great standard of living to pay for.the americans will also want the pipe line after their never ending election process.us old farts in atlantic canada would never find work if so many young bucks had not gone west.

    #2.3 - Tue Feb 14, 2012 2:35 PM EST
    Reply

    You are not going to get a thing, keep up good work GOP.

    • 1 vote
    Reply#3 - Tue Feb 14, 2012 12:02 PM EST

    Either let the payroll tax, 99 months of unemployment and the doctor fix all expire at the end of this month or make them permanent . At the end of the year allow the Bush/Obama tax cuts to expire for everyone. Rewrite the damn tax codes to eliminate all tax loop holes. Cut government spending by at least 10 to 20 per cent across the board.

    • 4 votes
    Reply#4 - Tue Feb 14, 2012 12:50 PM EST

    It is an election year, after all, and Democrats will do what they do best; spend other people's money to buy votes.

    • 2 votes
    Reply#5 - Tue Feb 14, 2012 1:35 PM EST

    Bob in Virginia, whose money did the GOP Bush administration spend, plunging us into war in Iraq? Cut taxes for the rich and add drug benefits without paying for any of them, How on earth do you figure this free lunch, It has to be paid for sooner or later. The GOP should for onec own up on how the deficiet occured and stop this bare faced denial as if nothing caused the deficit. Obama did not tank the economy or plung us into deficit, it is all the GOP doing and they should come to the table and help find a solution. They cannot wish it all away by blaming our POTUS. It must take two to tango.

      Reply#6 - Tue Feb 14, 2012 2:34 PM EST

      Between "Bonehead Boehner" crying all the time, and "Crazy Cantor" dancing around with burned ears. They contantly are in political retreat. Like the little "Economic Rats" they are. Trying to escape from "Cultural Traps" is very socially destructive for them. The "Dancing Clowns" love to endlessly dance in circles on job creation, taxes, trade, and Foreign Policy.

        Reply#7 - Tue Feb 14, 2012 5:48 PM EST

        A 100 million dollar per year missing and how is this make Social Security better. You all do understand this is the only monetary stream to fund Social Security and for the last 2yrs nothing has been flowing in, but has been flowing out.

        • 1 vote
        Reply#8 - Wed Feb 15, 2012 12:24 PM EST
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