December 19th, 2011
12:42 PM ET
11 years ago
Reid: No more negotiations on payroll tax cut
(CNN) - Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nevada, said Monday he will not agree to reopen negotiations with House leaders on the payroll tax cut until the House passes the two-month extension already approved by the Senate.
"I have always sought a year-long extension. I have been trying to forge one for weeks, and I am happy to continue negotiating one once we have made sure middle-class families will not wake up to a tax increase on January 1st," Reid said in a statement. "So before we re-open negotiations on a year-long extension, the House of Representatives must protect middle-class families by passing the overwhelmingly bipartisan compromise that Republicans negotiated, and was approved by ninety percent of the Senate."
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As usual, the Democratic mantra rings true: We are going to hold this up ourselves – but it's not OUR fault!!!! What a bunch of morons!
GOP is for tax increases
Bill passed...so they can leave for the Holiday's and come back to argue some more. Get it done now. Why wait. Work through the Holiday's like the rest of us.
This must be some kind of joke. What will happen if the extension is not passed after two months. Will you get two W-2 forms next year – one for wages earned prior to 02/29/2012 and one for the rest of the year. Also, if your annual review is in Jan/Feb and you get a bonus you will pay less in taxes then if your review / bonus was in March. This is very messed up – either pass it for the year or let it expire but don't make us re-program our payroll systems.
This was an agreement made by BOTH Republicans and Democrats. Now the tea party house is holding middle America hostage for their own poison pills.
If the House votes this down, Republicans have raised taxes on every Middle American in this country.
That shouldn't be surprising, Republicans only care about the super rich.
It is about time, Harry!
This is incredible! Don't these guys realize what jerks they look like by endlessly obstructing ANYTHING even half way constructive?Most people watching this bufoonery have come to see...this is the teavangelicals who are pushing the GOP to do thiis stonewalling and their main goal is to discredit and unseat that bright, young man of color in the white house! Let's call it what it is ! I can't immagine anyone voting for people like this ever again!
The republican'ts shoot themselves in the foot again!
Anyone remember how to compromise?
Stuck between a rock and a hard place, huh Boehner. So, do you and your group want to look like the bad guys or do you want to pass this short term extension and enjoy your Christmas break, only to come back in just a few weeks and continue seeking a viable plan? It's not like your kicking this down the road for months, it's merely weeks. I don't see how this get's turned down, unless it's for political games ONLY.
I have a curious thought. The Republicans pushed through the tax breaks for the wealthy, No questions on how to pay for it. The argument was "They are the employers and are nervous about hiring until the tax cut" (which did not boost employment when Bush pushed it through) Now the ones who are against taxes are almost allowing it. why not say "The middle class are nervous about purshasing anything until the tax cut"
which is worse? The individual rich theoretically not hiring, or the other 99% no longer purchasing.
Boehner, the day of reckoning is coming for you and all those Norquist-pledge traitors in the Congress.
We'll endure the pain. And then you'll feel the pain in 2012 !
.
Totally agree. enough already my fellow republicans,, time to put tea party in their place as an equal member of the party, not a overreaching, uncomprmoising, job killing, extreme part of our party.
Reid is right. No more games.
Republicans are gonna get tourched next year.
Please stay strong on this Mr. Reid. Don't let them get their way.. That pipeline is poison and shouldn't be tied to this.
Finally, Reid is forcing an important issue and not bowing down. Hold your stance and come election time, logical voters will prevail.
I find it crazy that Republicans continue to talk about tax increases when all we are trying to do is put tax rates somewhat back to normal...before the greatest rip off against the american people in my life time...The Bush Tax Cuts! Listen, I make good money and should pay more in taxes! Get over it! It is time for those of us that make more money to pay a bit more like we used to......This is not an increase people!!!!!! We are just trying to get back to normal! That is back to a better america before Bush was President!
Who is Boehner to say he won't back down, to whom? A fringe group in the House. You're talking to me Boehner, not them. I want a little Christmas money. You and your tea party minority got yours, bonuses, perks, all the other crap we give you. There should be no discussing this and holding it up for anybody. It's our money, not some punk 30 year old tea party activists who got government loans to go to college and were educated in public schools and now is crying government is the enemy. You're a punk too Boehner if you can't give the American people a holiday gift over the ones that own you. You may forget, but your debt is to us, not the tea party
Take your collective heads out of your rears and leave the payroll tax cut intact. Do your jobs for a change! To balance the budget, we need instead to start focusing our attn. on corporate tax rates. The U.S. based employers who actually employ Americans get the most favorable rates, and the businesses who don't MUST pay out the nose for the RIGHT TO BE HERE enjoying corporate freedoms without contributing to the greater good of our nation, or they can feel free to leave. The percentage of taxes paid must be proportional to the percentage of Americans employed in the company, whether we're talking about General Motors in Detroit or Don's muffler shop on Toledo
The Democrats have been letting Boehner get away with this stuff for too long. I'm glad Reid has drawn a line in the sand. Republicans' power to disrupt and obstruct progress is disproportionate with their position. They only hold a majority in the House. The Democrats hold the Senate and the veto pen of the President. Dems need to stop trying to play nice with Boehner and use the power they have. Make Boehner come to the table with something the President will sign, period.
What a joke! "We aren't discussing this anymore until you say ours is a good idea." Seriously, this guy is the kid on the playground who took his ball and went home cuz he didnt get his way. And before people sound off, I'm not Republican or Democrat. I stand for common sense, and extending that tax plan at all MAKES NO SENSE! It didnt help the economy last year, its not gonna help it this time either.Its just making Social Security go deeper in the red than it already is. Face it, I'm 26 and my generation wont see any of what were paying into it now because of those jokers. Here's a thought, Lets make social security elective and if you end up working til the day you die, blame yourself for your poor spending habits.
And the rich get richer!
I say kill the tax cut if it means pushing through the XL pipeline. That is too big a price to pay.
Bohner's nothing but a drama queen. Let's see him cry some more when he doesn't get his way... (Or even when he does..) What an embarrassment of a "leader"