The House Republicans reportedly is going to accept a short-term payroll tax cut measure.
It looks like Republicans just caved.
ABC Local reported:
Congressional aides say the House GOP is going to accept short-term payroll tax cut measure to prevent 160 million workers from a 2 percentage point tax increase on Jan. 1.
The move by Senate GOP Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky is aimed at breaking a stalemate between House Republicans and Democrats controlling the Senate. He urged House Republicans to pass a new short-term extension while calling on Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., to appoint negotiators on the separate House measure that would bring a year-long renewal of the payroll tax and jobless benefits.
In competing news conferences and statements, all sides sought to avoid blame for raising taxes every working American Jan. 1 — just as they would begin paying holiday bills. House Republicans in particular were facing fire from GOP establishment figures incensed that they would risk losing the tax cut issue to Democrats at the dawn of the 2012 presidential and congressional election year.
McConnell’s move intensifies pressure on House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, to cut his losses and agree to a short-term bill. But Boehner is thus far holding firm.