Obama: Payroll Tax Cut Fight Isn't Over Yet

[SunsetDreams]

The debate over extending the payroll tax cut appears close to being resolved, but President Obama on Tuesday told voters the fight isn't over yet.

"Washington shouldn't hike taxes on working Americans right now," Mr. Obama said from the White House. "That's exactly what's going to happen in a couple weeks if Congress doesn't do something about it," he said, noting that the typical American family will pay nearly $1,000 more in taxes this year if the payroll tax cut expires.

House Republicans on Monday announced they could consider extending the 2 percent payroll tax cut for the rest of the year without offsetting the costs with spending cuts -- a significant policy shift for the Republicans and a political victory for Democrats.

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Just last week, House Speaker John Boehner told reporters that Republicans would continue to insist that "this spending ought to be offset with reductions in spending elsewhere." But with negotiations with Democrats stalled, House Republicans are opting to avoid another political beating over the issue.

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-57377477-503544/obama-payroll-tax-cut-fight-isnt-over-yet/
(Video at link)

Obama Renews Pressure For Payroll Tax Cut Even As GOP Leaders Agree To Compromise

Let’s keep making sure the American people’s voices are breaking through until it’s finally, absolutely done,” Obama said. He added with a chuckle: “Until you see a photo of me signing the bill at my desk — and make sure [the photo is] verified and certified. If it’s not on the White House Web site, it hasn’t happened.”

Obama was making an oblique allusion to the payroll tax debate in December, when he forged an agreement on a temporary, two-month extension only to have House GOP leaders balk at the plan. The White House and Senate launched an intensive public campaign to pressure the House, which ultimately agreed to the deal at the 11th hour.

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On Monday, perhaps wanting to avoid another political fight like the one that left them on the wrong side last go-round, House GOP leaders said they would agree to extend the tax holiday through the end of the year without requiring Democrats to offset the cost with other budget savings.

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Still, the White House pushed forward Tuesday with more public pressure focused on the payroll holiday, renewing a Twitter campaign, with the hashtag #40dollars, asking supporters to post messages explaining what losing that much each paycheck would mean to them.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/obama-renews-pressure-for-payroll-tax-cut-even-as-gop-leaders-agree-to-compromise/2012/02/14/gIQAyZEbDR_story.html

Democrats privately fear that Republicans may demand unrelated policy concessions such as the Keystone pipeline or loosening of pollution regulations in order to agree to continue the provisions. Obama’s message to the GOP: Don’t go there.

“They need to do it now — without drama and without delay,” he said. “No ideological sideshows to gum up the works. No self-inflicted wounds. Just pass this middle class tax cut. Pass the extension of unemployment insurance. Do it before it’s too late.”

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2012/02/obama-urges-public-to-keep-up-payroll-tax-pressure-on-gop.php