House rejects payroll tax cut compromise

[dbt]

Source: CBS News

The House on Tuesday voted to disapprove a Senate bill that would have extended the payroll tax cut and unemployment insurance for two months, seeking instead a conference with the Senate to work out differences between the two chambers' bills.

The motion, which dictates that Congress go to conference with the Senate on the payroll tax package and disagree with the Senate bill, was approved with a 229-193 vote falling largely along party lines: Seven Republicans voted against it, as did all Democrats.

By declining to vote on the actual Senate-passed legislation, House Republicans avoid voting "no" on the popular measure - theoretically making it harder for Democrats to target them for opposing a payroll tax cut bill. Because House Republicans passed their own bill addressing the payroll tax cut, they were then able to vote for a conference on the House bill and the Senate bill while avoiding a vote on the Senate bill altogether. <snip>

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has indicated that he will not bring the Senate back to conference on the bill, warning in a statement yesterday that House Republicans would be held responsible -- at least by Democrats -- if Americans saw their taxes go up on January 1st.


Read more: http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-57345655-503544/house-rejects-payroll-tax-cut-compromise/?tag=stack

---

Everybody act surprised!

[countryjake]

1. K&R!

.