Endgame on Payroll Tax - Heritage Action for America

Endgame on Payroll Tax - Heritage Action for America

Endgame on Payroll Tax
December 19, 2011 by Dan Holler Leave a Comment Print This
Last week, the House of Representatives passed a one-year extension of the payroll tax cut, ensuring taxes did not increase on hard working Americans. The Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act also extended the “doc fix,” extended and reformed unemployment insurance, expedited a decision on the Keystone XL pipeline, and increased the mortgage guarantee fee for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. The bill was not perfect, but it was worthy of conservative consideration.
Unfortunately, on Saturday, the Senate passed a simple two-month extension and once again demonstrated it was not committed to doing the real work required of Congress. Rather than stay in town to work towards an agreement on a full-year extension that included some important reforms, Senators chose to head home until January 23, 2012.
This morning, House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) predicted the House would reject the Senate’s stopgap measure and instead reaffirm their position that a full-year extension is the only acceptable outcome. He said it was “time for Congress to do its work” and there should be “no more kicking the can down the road.” On this, Heritage Action agrees.
More importantly, for much of the year, conservatives have said House Republicans should not negotiate with themselves; instead, they should wait until the Senate puts an offer on the table. Finally, after nearly 12 months, the Senate has put an offer on the table.
But an offer is just that – an offer. The House is not bound to accept it, nor should they; after all, we have two chambers of Congress for a reason. Speaker Boehner reminded President Obama and obstinate Senators of that this morning:
When there’s a disagreement between the two chambers, we sit down in a conference and resolve those differences, and that’s exactly what I believe the House will do.
Whether through a conference committee, public debate or an open floor process, the Senate should come back and hash out the differences between their two-month extension and the full-year extension passed by the House. Senate Republicans are willing to return, but Senate Democrats remain obstinate.
House of Representatives must continue to stand its ground, and push for solid conservative policies that will move things to the right.

Filed Under: Inside Congress
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John Mauldin
I, for one, think that the people in Washington on both sides of the fence are "out of control". No longer are the wishes of the citizens being considered. It has turned into a "game" and we are the pawns. Furnace Filter Manufacturer
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3 hours ago 18 Likes

ICU4SHO
Amen.
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3 hours ago in reply to John Mauldin 6 Likes

H2ODog
Unfortunately they are also "out of touch" which multiplies the the damage they unknowingly inflict. A two month extension of the payroll tax cut? That will cost more in implementation than it will save. The only effect will be increased costs/confusion to businesses and decreased revenue to pay for Social Security. Pathetic.
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47 minutes ago in reply to John Mauldin 2 Likes

Daver812
The primary point of objection is completely valid and not just for businesses but households as well. When the congress revises the tax code it should have a minimum 2 year lead-time so people can plan, and a minimum 2 year life span, so people learning the code have some semblance of continuity and ability to adjust.
Still the whole idea of raiding the Social Security funding mechanism is flawed! We are all aware that in 16 years the fund goes negative--yet instead of reform to prolong that outcome we are hastening it with reduced funding. It doesn't make sense--except... show more
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3 hours ago 17 Likes

Edward Burns
I say the people of the United States take back are country tell the democraps and GOP To go to hell stop Taxing usto death
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3 hours ago 10 Likes

Jack Hotchkiss
I believe we are past the point of curing congress with a mere vote. We need to face the fact that we the American people are under attack and need to rise up and reconstruct congress, the WhiteHouse and State/Local governments. I am not suggesting the "R" word but a complete SPRING cleaning in the middle of WINTER.
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