Will the House GOP kill the payroll tax break?
John Boehner and Co. vow not to back the Senate's two-month extension of the popular tax cut — and it may be too late to negotiate a new deal

A free daily digest of the biggest news stories of the day - and the best features from our website
Thank you for signing up to TheWeek. You will receive a verification email shortly.
There was a problem. Please refresh the page and try again.
It may not be a happy holiday on Capitol Hill. House Republicans are threatening to reject the Senate's two-month extension of the payroll tax cut, which is scheduled to expire on Dec. 31. Speaker John Boehner insists that passing such a short-term fix will create uncertainty for the economy. It would also potentially give President Obama another two months to hammer the GOP over the tax break. But it may be too late for a new deal: The Senate has already shut down for the holidays, and its Democratic leaders say they don't intend to come back to Washington to negotiate. They consider the Senate bill a bipartisan compromise — it passed 89-10. Will the House GOP really let the tax cut die?
Of course. These radicals are experienced hostage-takers: The two parties have already negotiated on this, says Steve Benen at Washington Monthly. "House Republicans said they'd demand an expedited Keystone decision" — referring to the controversial oil pipeline that President Obama has avoided ruling on — "and Senate Republicans successfully negotiated that into the deal." But now it turns out that's not enough for the "radicalized House GOP caucus." They don't want a middle-class tax cut anyway, so they'll hold it hostage and, if necessary, let it die if they don't get even more "right-wing goodies."
"Republicans may yet kill middle-class tax cut"
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
If it dies, blame Democrats: The Senate knew that Boehner and his troops didn't want a temporary fix, says Rick Moran at The American Thinker. Still, Senate Democrats passed their bill and skipped town. It will be their fault if House Republicans block it. But don't freak out yet: I bet we'll "see an 11th hour deal again" so taxpayers don't get "socked with a tax increase the first of the year."
"House GOP not on board Senate payroll tax bill"
But really, they should let it die: The two-month extension was a huge mistake, says Rob Port at Say Anything. "A temporary tax cut will engender uncertainty in labor markets that will outweigh any beneficial impact from lessened tax burdens." Besides, Medicare and Social Security already "represent terrible obligations the nation simply doesn't have enough funds to cover." Bleeding money from them by keeping the payroll tax at 4.2 percent, instead of 6.2 percent, "only exacerbates the problem."
"The payroll tax extension was a mistake"
Continue reading for free
We hope you're enjoying The Week's refreshingly open-minded journalism.
Subscribed to The Week? Register your account with the same email as your subscription.
Sign up to our 10 Things You Need to Know Today newsletter
A free daily digest of the biggest news stories of the day - and the best features from our website
-
Government shutdown odds spike as House GOP hardliners thwart McCarthy, spending bills
Speed Read House Speaker Kevin McCarthy's caucus is in disarray, and the US is now hurtling toward an avoidable debacle
By Peter Weber Published
-
Firefighters save confused delivery robots
Tall Tales And other stories from the stranger side of life
By Chas Newkey-Burden Published
-
'Rates have peaked'
Today's Newspapers A round-up of the headlines from the UK front pages
By The Week Staff Published
-
Trump surrenders in Georgia election subversion case
Speed Read
By Catherine Garcia Published
-
Rep. Hakeem Jeffries chosen to succeed Pelosi as leader of House Democrats
Speed Read
By Brigid Kennedy Published
-
GOP leader Kevin McCarthy's bid for House speaker may really be in peril
Speed Read
By Peter Weber Published
-
Are China's protests a real threat for Beijing?
opinion The sharpest opinions on the debate from around the web
By Harold Maass Published
-
Who is Nick Fuentes, the white nationalist who dined with Trump and Kanye?
Speed Read From Charlottesville to Mar-a-Lago in just five years
By Rafi Schwartz Published
-
Jury convicts Oath Keepers Stewart Rhodes, Kelly Meggs of seditious conspiracy in landmark Jan. 6 verdict
Speed Read
By Peter Weber Published
-
A look at the White House's festive and homey holiday decor
Speed Read
By Brigid Kennedy Published
-
Bob Iger addresses 'Don't Say Gay' bill, says inclusion is part of Disney's values
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published