Republicans to Obama: Give us Keystone and you can have your middle class payroll tax break

[^_^ 5,021]

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Republicans in the House of Representatives were falling into line on Thursday behind a bill to extend a payroll tax break for workers after leaders sweetened the legislation with a provision that has drawn a veto threat from President Barack Obama.

The bill detailed by House Republican leaders in a closed door session includes a measure requiring quick approval of the Keystone XL pipeline that is to carry Canadian oil to Texas refineries. Obama has delayed approval of the project for a year to allow more review on its environmental impact.

Obama said on Wednesday he would reject any payroll tax cut legislation that included the pipeline provision.

...

The 4.2 percent payroll tax that workers pay to fund the Social Security retirement system will snap back to 6.2 percent in January if Congress fails to act.

The pipeline provision and the veto threat may have helped win conservative support for the payroll tax cut extension.

"It never hurts," Republican Representative Kevin Brady said when asked if Obama's veto threat helped galvanize reluctant conservatives.

...

The Keystone pipeline provision could put Democrats on the spot. Voting against the legislation could expose them to Republican charges that they favor their liberal environmentalist base over hard-pressed workers who are struggling to pay bills.

http://old.news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20111208/pl_nm/us_usa_taxes

[The_Dude 1,142]

Same old dirty tricks. Both parties do it, and I find it equally reprehensible.

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Same old dirty tricks. Both parties do it, and I find it equally reprehensible.

I think the GOP has pretty much checkmated the President here. Keystone is going to happen one way or another, the one year delay was just a show to shut up the environmentalists.. but now he may have to just let it happen. In fact, I think he should.

[The_Dude 1,142]

I think the GOP has pretty much checkmated the President here. Keystone is going to happen one way or another, the one year delay was just a show to shut up the environmentalists.. but now he may have to just let it happen. In fact, I think he should.

Yeah, I don't think Obama has the balls to veto the bill. I just wish they could be debated and voted on separately.

[^_^ 5,021]

Yeah, I don't think Obama has the balls to veto the bill. I just wish they could be debated and voted on separately.

Hasn't there been enough debate in the media on Keystone? We can't be the only nation on earth all tied up with guilt about building pipelines... everyone else is doing it.

[Ban Hammer 13,407]

all the republicans want is some beer!

[slim 1,530]

"Keith Stone... you're so smooth."

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

all the republicans want is some beer!

You call that beer? I thought you knew better.

[mawilson 2,133]

The 4.2 percent payroll tax that workers pay to fund the Social Security retirement system will snap back to 6.2 percent in January if Congress fails to act.

Good.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Good.

It'd be better if they could also accelerate the expiration of the Bush/Obama tax cut package. Make it all expire in 2011 and the deficit would shrink considerably in 2012. Neither is going to happen, though. We'll just continue to pretend that tax cuts create jobs.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

I think the GOP has pretty much checkmated the President here. Keystone is going to happen one way or another, the one year delay was just a show to shut up the environmentalists.. but now he may have to just let it happen. In fact, I think he should.

You are right but for the wrong reason. It WILL happen.

Obama is collecting campaign donations from BOTH sides right now. He does not want to "shut up" the environmentalists, he wants to keep them talking and paying....along with the energy producers, for as long as possible. After the election, if he is re-elected he will approve it because the unions want it and unions trump environmental moonbats any day. If a Republican is elected it will be approved even sooner.

Obama is getting trumped by the Repubs and really is going to have a problem vetoing a bill that would provide so many JOBS for union workers.

Nice try Barack.

[mawilson 2,133]

It'd be better if they could also accelerate the expiration of the Bush/Obama tax cut package. Make it all expire in 2011 and the deficit would shrink considerably in 2012. Neither is going to happen, though. We'll just continue to pretend that tax cuts create jobs.

Hopefully they'll just keep doing nothing and they will expire on their own.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Hopefully they'll just keep doing nothing and they will expire on their own.

That would actually be the most straightforward way to fix the budget: for Congress to do absolutely nothing. Deficit would be gone in a few years.

[Ban Hammer 13,407]

You call that beer? I thought you knew better.

you should know by now i'm a warsteiner and bitburger fan.

Edited December 9, 2011 by charles!

[mawilson 2,133]

That would actually be the most straightforward way to fix the budget: for Congress to do absolutely nothing. Deficit would be gone in a few years.

Not totally gone, unfortunately. But mostly gone. And of course we would still have to deal with the exploding costs of Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security down the line.