Snappy newsletters. Simple Facebook sharing. Spirited comments. Sweet features are waiting… GET THEM NOW!

House GOP Agrees to Payroll Tax Cut Deal

John Boehner reluctantly agrees to two-month extension

By John Johnson, Newser Staff

Posted Dec 22, 2011 3:28 PM CST | Updated Dec 22, 2011 4:43 PM CST

(Newser) – Get ready for a lot of "Boehner blinks" headlines. House Republicans have agreed to a two-month extension of the payroll tax cut after all, reports CNN. "Senator Reid and I have reached an agreement that will ensure taxes do not increase for working families on January 1," the House speaker said today. As part of the deal, the House and Senate will begin hammering out a longer-term extension in January. It's possible that the House could take care of business quickly in a voice vote, meaning relatively few members need be present, notes the Washington Post.

Asked flat out at his press conference whether he had "caved," Boehner didn't quite agree or disagree: "Sometimes it's hard to do the right thing, and sometimes it's politically difficult to do the right thing." He had been under pressure on the right from everyone from Mitch McConnell to the Wall Street Journal editorial board to strike a deal.

Speaker of the House John Boehner walks to a news conference Thursday. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow

CLICK BELOW TO VOTE

60%

21%

10%

To report an error on this story, notify our editors.

OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

Getty Images

Man Goes to Hospital For Kidney Stone...Leaves a Woman (Huff Post)

Is Chase Crawford Dating a Cougar? (Bleacher Report)

My Boss Walked in on Me Touching Myself, Now He Won't Stop Flirting (Slate)

7 Gross Celebrity Items Sold at Auction (The Week)

The Lowest-Rated Show on TV Is Actually Awesome (Slate)

Partner Links

Sponsor Links

A snapshot of the day's best news stories.

View Larger Grid

All Today Yesterday Pick a Date

COMMENTS

Read the comment policy

Showing 3 of 160 comments

HappyHabenero

Dec 23, 2011 3:39 AM CST

what I think was funny was obummers speech touting the thousand dollar or so yearly savings, due to this agreement. THAT is the result of a YEAR of these cuts, not two months. The republicans passed a YEAR in the house, and Hairy ripe, REFUSED to hear it on the Senate. Then offered up the two month deal. Bet you won't hear that at MSNBC

Watching4theMODS

Dec 22, 2011 11:13 PM CST

Vote those GOP bums out in Nov. They have done everything to hold up the economic recovery to pin it on Obama. America can't afford these Krotch Bros. henchmen. And Willard Bain is just as bad as the rest of them. Vote the GOP out on every level. Get all the GOP on unemployment this time next year.

Twiny

Dec 22, 2011 10:50 PM CST

Well, they managed to hoodwink us again. By retaining the paltry forty bucks a week 'tax holiday,' they've managed to do even more damage to Social Security. The Republicans 'paid' for that tax cut alright. They paid for it with MY FUCKING MONEY, gutting a system that I have paid into for my entire working life. Social Security is broken, they scream, even as they break it more.

What's Popular Now on Facebook

Japanese Artist Serves Up Own Cooked Genitals

Rape Conviction Cleared, Thanks to Facebook

CNN (Source Grid »)
Washington Post (Source Grid »)

Politics

Congress • John Boehner • House Republicans • payroll taxes

More Newser Stories

House Expects to Clear Payroll Tax Cut Today

Though it's possible dissenting members could delay things

(NEWSER) - The payroll tax cut deal is expected to be ratified today, with congressional leaders planning voice votes that would require just a handful of members to be present, the Washington Post reports. Politico notes that the House will be using unanimous consent rules, however, meaning a dissenting member could force a vote next week. Because of the timing, disapproving members will have a hard time making it back to DC in time, but there are at least two who may object and force House members to return next week. More»

Boehner Cancels Payroll Vote

House Republicans revolt, call for conference committee

(NEWSER) - House Republicans didn’t hold their expected vote on the Senate’s two-month payroll tax cut extension last night, a hairpin turn so abrupt that Politico ’s story on it is headlined, “Has John Boehner Lost Control?” The House had planned to vote down the Senate bill and push for a full-year extension, but members objected that doing so would compromise their pledge against voting for tax hikes. Instead, the House will hold a procedural vote this morning to send the matter into a conference committee with the Senate. More»

House Won't Pass 2-Month Payroll Tax Cut: Boehner

Will instead call for quick talks on one-year extension

(NEWSER) - The House will reject a Senate-approved plan to extend the payroll tax cut for two months, John Boehner said at a news conference today. The House's plan: to call for immediate negotiations on a yearlong extension that could create "certainty for people who are trying to create jobs," the speaker said, adding that he doesn't "believe the differences between the House and Senate are that great." The Washington Post reports that the House plans to reject the deal tomorrow. More»

House GOP Caves, Backs Payroll Tax

Boehner and Co. say they'll accept tax cut without paying for it elsewhere

(NEWSER) - House Republican leaders have surprised and angered rank-and-file lawmakers by abruptly backing down from demands that a 10-month extension of the payroll tax cut be paid for with cuts elsewhere. GOP leaders are wary of holding up a tax cut for 160 million Americans in an election year, Politico notes, but John Boehner's raucous caucus will likely chafe at the move, which will add around $100 billion to the deficit. Still, the measure will now likely pass; even Nancy Pelosi hasn't signaled opposition. More»

GOP Fell Into Democrats' 'Trap' on Payroll Tax

Looked 'heartless' as Obama seized advantage: Charles Krauthammer

(NEWSER) - Republicans really blew it in the payroll tax debate—both in terms of policy and politics, writes Charles Krauthammer. For one thing, the two-month extension simply doesn't make sense: It requires businesses to plan for "two-thirds of a one-quarter tax-holiday extension." More importantly, for Democrats, it was "the perfect campaign ploy: an election-year bribe that has the additional virtue of seizing the tax issue for the Democrats," Krauthammer writes in the Washington Post . More»

NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS

What is Newser?

Face it: there's too much news. At Newser, we choose the most thought-provoking and entertaining stories from hundreds of US and international sources and reduce them to a headline, picture, and two paragraphs. And we do it 24/7—you can come back morning, noon, night (and in between) for something new that matters. Read less, know more.

Learn more »

Partnering with: Slate

View Newser on the mobile website

House GOP Agrees to Payroll Tax Cut Deal

John Boehner reluctantly agrees to two-month extension

OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

Congress • John Boehner • House Republicans • payroll taxes

MOST POPULAR STORIES

[ By Views ]

[ By Comments ]

More Newser Stories

House Expects to Clear Payroll Tax Cut Today

Though it's possible dissenting members could delay things

Boehner Cancels Payroll Vote

House Republicans revolt, call for conference committee

House Won't Pass 2-Month Payroll Tax Cut: Boehner

Will instead call for quick talks on one-year extension

House GOP Caves, Backs Payroll Tax

Boehner and Co. say they'll accept tax cut without paying for it elsewhere

GOP Fell Into Democrats' 'Trap' on Payroll Tax

Looked 'heartless' as Obama seized advantage: Charles Krauthammer

About Us

Site

Community

Site Maps

Tools

More News

What is Newser?