Senate reaches tentative payroll tax deal (GOP forces Obama's hand)

cbs ^ | 12/16/2011 | ap

[tobyhill]

WASHINGTON - Senate leaders reached tentative agreement Friday night on legislation to extend Social Security payroll tax cuts and jobless benefits for two months while requiring President Obama to accept Republican demands for a swift decision on the fate of an oil pipeline that promises thousands of jobs.

Senate negotiators agreed to the two-month extension after failing to reach an agreement on extending the tax cut for another year, CBS News Capitol Hill producer John Nolen reports.

A vote could be held as early as Saturday on the measure.

Any deal would also require House passage before it could reach Mr. Obama's desk.

Racing to adjourn for the year, lawmakers moved quickly to clear separate legislation avoiding a partial government shutdown threatened for midnight — focusing attention on the final disputed issue of the year in an era of high joblessness and public dissatisfaction with Congress.

[Red_Devil 232]

Two month delay? - The SOBs are giving bozo his 17 day VayCay!

[hinckley buzzard]

If the Senate would have passed a budget this year all these stupid deadline votes would have been unnecessary.

[tobyhill]

The 2 month delay is to force Obama to make a decision on the pipeline within 60 days. It makes Obama alienate someone before the election.

[InterceptPoint]

Two months is the 60 days it is supposed to take Obama to get the Keystone project turned on. No Keystone in 60 days and it is back to the drawing board with a much shorter fuse.

Sounds OK to me.

[BobL]

“There was no immediate response to the compromise from the White House, which a few hours earlier had backed away from Mr. Obama’s threat to veto any bill that linked the payroll tax cut extension with a Republican demand for a speedy decision on the Keystone XL oil pipeline proposed from Canada to Texas.”

PRAISE THE LORD!!!!

The Republicans FINALLY figured out that they have some cards too...and Obama was not about to let the payroll tax cut lapse. It just SUCKS that it took them that long to figure all this out.

If they had HALF A BRAIN, they would have figured out that Obama was NEVER about to let the Bush Tax Cut lapse either, as it would have blown away the farce that the tax cut was “for the wealthy” - but they caved.

Also, the Republicans would not have, SICKENLY, agreed to for a dollar to dollar cut in military and social programs, when social programs are 3 to 4 times as much of the budget.

But we have to live with that INEPTITUDE...and it SICKENS me, since I have kids.

[Terry Mross]

So, they’re going home for Christmas without extending the unemployment benefits? That won’t sit well with anyone who’s not going to get another check no matter what party they’re for.

With that said, every bill should stand on its own. No riders.

Second, why do we need new laws? Congress has been making laws for more than 200 years. Don’t we have enough? Congress should be in session for two reasons. One, the budget. And two, to approve or deny appointments.

[sickoflibs]

RE :"Republican senators leaving a closed-door meeting put the price tag of the two-month package at between $30 billion and $40 billion said the cost would be covered through a fee on mortgages backed by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. The legislation would also provide a 60-day reprieve from a scheduled 27 percent cut in the fees paid to doctors who treat Medicare patients. Several officials said it would require a decision within 60 days on the pipeline, with the president required to authorize construction unless he determined that would not be in the national interest."

Not sure what to make of this but skeptical it is deficit neutral.

Now Boehner has to get the house to pass it. I bet he goes to Pelosi again to round up Democrat votes as he did with the debt limit deal.

[mwl8787]

Everyone is missing a critical point. A 2-month extension on the payroll tax and unemployment benefits means nothing good for the economy, and BO has enraged his base on Keystone.

The 2-month trigger means that the entire debate will occur again, and the GOP will demonstrate that it cares about jobs, and BO doesn’t.

Obama got rolled. He only cares about getting to Hawaii.

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks tobyhill.

...focusing attention on the final disputed issue of the year in an era of high joblessness and public dissatisfaction with Congress.

[tobyhill]

No, it extends it 2 months and just long enough for Obama to finally make a decision on the pipeline.

[eyedigress]

Do you really think he will make that decision? He will task the EPA into some year long study and say he can’t make that decision until they are done. He will compare it to General officers in the theater of war.

[spokeshave]

and just long enough for Obama to finally make a decision on the pipeline.

And here is our great reader and prevaricator making just that decision....accompanied by Senior senior advisers (those balding white old geezers)

Adviser: "Yes Mr President ...you have it now....

Heads....build the pipeline

Tails....don't build the pipeline

And your chances of re-election are about the same as for the coin landing on its edge.

[newzjunkey]

Did Newt's debate answer on Keystone, calling Obama "irrational" and "out of touch," call for the GOP to attach it to the "tax cut" and ship it to Obama as often as necessary, get under the someone's skin?

[spokeshave]

One of the talk radio hosts said to "stick it to 0bambi" by attaching the Keystone pipeline to significant legislation

Not certain if it was Hannity or Rush...maybe Levin....

anyway ...the miscreant will soon let us know,,,,stay tuned.

[Gilbo_3]

skeptical it is deficit neutral

skeptical ??? Im gonna go out on a limb and bet that most of it will be printed, AND that theres at least three capitulations/compromises built in for bambam to use at his discretion...the pipeline 'deadline' being an obvious start...

this is a quickie to get outta dc and enjoy the 'holiday' and the details will prolly be buried...then in 6 weeks we get to start the next round of FICA cuts and unemployment extentions...

how far off is the next debt ceiling showdown ???

does it come before the new season of survivor or american idol ???

[sickoflibs]

You are very cynical I notice.
Look, it is time to take sides even if both are leading us to hell.
If we have a chance to vote for the side that ‘claims’ they can save this country for one more day than the other will before the implosion even if he was a Marxist yesterday when he has a good chance of winning now, how can we give that up for selfish things like principles?
Think big picture :)

[Gilbo_3]

damn, i guess i gotta go eat my peas again...8^}