Payroll tax cut fight ends ugly year for Boehner
 

WASHINGTON --

John Boehner vowed early on that as speaker, he would let the House "work its will." At the end of his first year in charge of the fractious Republican-controlled chamber, it's clear he has little choice.

An uncompromising band of conservatives, led by GOP freshmen to whom Boehner owes his speakership, has repeatedly forced him to back away from deals with President Barack Obama, Democrats and, this week, even one struck by Senate Republicans. Gridlock, again and again, has defined Congress in the Boehner era.

In a closed meeting Monday night, a few Republicans gave voice to widely whispered questions about Boehner's ability and willingness to represent them in negotiations with the White House and Senate. They were incensed that the Senate had overwhelmingly passed a two-month extension of a payroll tax cut and then left town. House Republicans were demanding a yearlong tax cut, but there was no longer a Senate in session to negotiate with.

How could this have happened, Rep. Duncan Hunter, R-Calif., asked Boehner, according to officials who were present.

Rep. Cliff Stearns was more direct: Was the Senate deal really a total surprise? Or did Boehner give some sort of tacit agreement?

Boehner tersely, adamantly denied doing so, according to those present. He said he had not expected the Senate's overwhelming approval.

It was an ugly end to a year of gridlock on Capitol Hill that earned Congress historically low approval ratings and the nation a downgrade in its credit rating.

However, the speaker's allies say his patience and his willingness to pull back is preventing conservatives from trying to replace him.


http://www2.timesdispatch.com/news/2...-b-ar-1558247/

Two-month extension of a payroll tax cut that feeds SS - that is really showing leadership and what is good for the nation :rolleyes:


Excellent work Senate :tro:

If we're to believe the average family will pay an extra 1K/year, brings great news (hidden) in that the 'average american family' is making 50K a/year. Pretty close to middle class IMO.

Again our poor are rich and obese compared to the rest of the world. America should be very very proud.

Excuse me, but let's blame the appropriate parties here:

Senate Dems asked for a year extension, clean bill. Republicans denied it.

Senate Dems put in different stuff Republicans requested as hostages - much from Speaker Boehner - three different times, including Keystone pipeline: each time they did, Republicans then changed their mind and denied it.

Then the Senate Repubs, who knew they have to pass unemployment benefits, agreed to two months, giving us 2 months after the holidays to "negotiate", passed it, and left town.

And now Boehner is in deep trouble, as he knows the 2 month extension will pass with most Republicans in the House, but his Tea Party Screamers don't want it. He's caving to the Tea Party crazies. But now he's stuck, as the Senate is gone.

See even our live stock have TV's.

BTW 95% of our 'poor' do. LOL

It is a great Bill..it just needs to be 1 year...2 months just means we will be doing the same sh*t over again in Feb.

I hope the House holds firm :tro: Love the Keystone Pipeline :{>:


GOP:L: 2012 !!!

Enjoy your Republican-generated tax increase in 11 days Your paycheck will be about $40 smaller, I'll guess. Be sure to blame the right people :D

Well, the vote on Keystone would have been a no. They don't want that in there. They didn't think the Dems would put that in, but they did. The Dems put in every single thing the GOP asked for, much to the GOP's shock.

Keystone is gone now for them.

Now the GOP - specifically Boehner - owns an across-the-board tax increase for all of us, and throwing millions off unemployment in 11 days. Raising everyone's taxes - including your's (your January paychecks will be smaller). And causing doctors who treat Medicare patients to lose about 27% of their income starting Jan. 1.

Enjoy that while you cheer on your Republicans.

Oh - and one of the GOP refusals because the Republicans had the Dems take out a tax increase (paying for this) on the wealthy. So enjoy that the GOP is increasing taxes on everyone who makes nothing, while the wealthiest were saved from the tax increase by your beloved GOP. The GOP chose to cut your paycheck in two weeks, so the wealthy wouldn't lose any money.

You'll notice that Sen. McConnell is here in Kentucky, and has NOT publicly supported Boehner. He's leaving the Speaker to hang out to dry all by himself, because Boehner has caused his own problems and reneged on his word - with his only option to pass the 2 month extension.

The Dems are 100% out of this, this is pure Republican infighting: House GOP refusing to do what Senate GOP has done for them, Boehners Republicans infighting and him with zero control of his House. It's so bad McConnell has washed his hands of it, and Sena

Tte Republicans are publicly dissing Boehner. The House GOP is falling off a cliff, and the Tea Party is pushing them.

Boehners only choice, at this point, if he wants to save any GOP seats in 2012, is to call his House back into session tomorrow, and vote the 2 month extension in.

Social Security is broke. Tell your Dems that!

Oh and that the Average American Family makes 50K!

Was that a Fox poll?...and are they 50" wide screens?....:D

Just color!

LMAO!!

Social Security is not "broke" in the least.

The Average American Family does not make $50,000, 47% of Americans live within or just above poverty according to the 2010 census.

Enjoy losing about $100 in cash pay a month, starting at the end of next week, thanks to your beloved GOP. Enjoy! It will be okay. I'm sure you have a color TV.

Oh: but you might want to increase your contributions to your local churches, because millions are going to be thrown off the unemployment rolls New Years Day, too. I know you are a big believer that "the community" takes care of the poor, homeless and starving, not the government.

So even though your personal pay check is cut starting New Years Day by about $40 (thanks GOP!) you should increase your charitable contributions to help your newly starving neighbors who the GOP just threw off unemployment. After all, you say it's a community responsibility, not the governments!

I hope your Grandma or parents don't get sick. Doctors that treat Medicare patients just got 27% of their reimbursement income taken away by the GOP starting New Year's Day. Your parents or grandparents health care prices just went up by 1/3. Thanks, GOP!

Isn't this letting a tax break expire?

I can live with $40/week less. Hopefully it will go to US seniors and not Egypt and/or Pakistan.

Then your fight is with CNN and Dems as that is what I'm quoting

I accept!!

The ss fund holds $2.6 trillion, none of it in cash, ALL OF IT IN IOU's from the treasury. You know 'eggs in one basket!'

I love the House's position ! Hold firm !!

GOP :L: 2012

Starting January 1 (11 days from now) everyone's paycheck will be smaller, by about $40 - $125 a month.

Starting 11 days from now, millions will be thrown off unemployment, thus will be newly hungry, homeless, etc.

Effective January 1, doctors who treat Medicare patients will lose 27% of their reimbursement. Thus anyone you know on Medicare will have their health care costs at the doctors office increase in 11 days.

The is due entirely and 100% to the Republican House lead by Speaker John Boehner.

Happy New Year!

:zz: You said you wanted a clean 1 year extension. That would be the Senate Dems who offered that. The Senate GOP denied that, and the House GOP is denying that, too. Instead, the House GOP is ensuring you take a $100 cash hit - a tax increase - out of your monthly paychecks, starting in 11 days.

Do you have any idea at all what you are cheering for?

Everyone is the key!

Can anyone say Flat Tax for everyone!

Except the wealthy. Those who make over $108,000 won't have any tax increase at all on the funds over that amount.

Yup! Go House Go !! Hold Firm!!

Make those Senate Ba$tards get back to work and do their job!

Looks like I'll make it to Hawaii for Christmas and Obama won't :tro:

Those Senate Ba$tards (sic) already negotiated three compromises, two of which Boehner allegedly approved. The last compromise which Boehner didn't bring for a vote because it would pass, and the Tea Party didn't want it to.

Enjoy your Republican tax hike next month. I'm sure your face will appreciate the sacrifice your nose is making <g>

^^^^^^^^^ forgetting, actually at this point ignoring the fact the top half are paying 97% of income taxes.

What does income tax have to do with payroll taxes? Nothing at all.

But hey, if you want to talk all taxes, the bottom half pay a far larger percentage of their income to taxes than your beloved wealthy, who make out like bandits.

I only pay 15% on capital gains. A portion of my income I don't pay any SS taxes on at all. Meanwhile, you pay all that, and more. Enjoy :-) Keep working your ass off for me, Dell. I do appreciate it.

Bottom Line!

And the fact payroll taxes are supposed to pay for SS and Medicare.

Get rid of SS and medicare and make the average american responsible for him/herself and there would be no need for the tax. Talk about helping small businesses.

Keep working and paying those taxes for me, Dell. I appreciate it! My taxes are not going up as much as yours are. And you say you want to get rid of SS and Medicare, but the GOP just voted an increase in funding those programs, paid for by a tax increase on you. What side are you on? The tax for government programs side, it appears, the GOP side?

Now you know why I have been a lifetime Republican :-) They will never get rid of my benefits. Maybe yours. They talk a good story, but it keeps people in line, believing the opposite of what they really do. Good luck, keep voting GOP for me!

Grow up and move out of my house!

Excuse me, but I'm a "Job Creator". I think it's you that are living off me! Stop complaining, and pay your increased taxes like a good Republican!

Thank goodness the GOP rejected the Dem compromise that paid for the payroll tax cut by a small income tax on the upper incomes. Better you pay for my tax cut, than me! Have a nice 2012, and when your first paycheck is smaller, remember it's Obama's fault, not the GOP's! (even though it was the GOP that raised your taxes)

just checked my work email and found this gem:

To: All Employees

In the absence of federal legislation extending the 2011 employee social security tax rate cut, 2012 social security tax rates for employees will increase from 4.2 percent to 6.2 percent effective Jan. 1, 2012. As a result, ******** employees will see their tax deduction rise in 2012.

The U.S. Congress is still considering proposals that may extend the reduced 4.2 percent rate. Employees will be notified of any changes as soon as the information becomes available.

The Social Security Administration recently announced the maximum amount of wages subject to social security taxes will increase from $106,800 for 2011 to $110,100 for 2012.

The Medicare tax rate of 1.45 percent is unchanged for 2012. There is no limit on wages subject to Medicare taxes.

If you have any questions, please contact the HRCC.

i'm pretty sure you'll see house republican's fold before the weekend but i'd gladly pay a few $ to see them slit their own throats over this.

Speaker Boehner cuts C-Span feed as House refuses to address tax cut
 

Boehner’s office cuts off C-SPAN cameras as GOP takes verbal beating
http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2011/12/2...takes-beating/

House GOP Refuses to Allow Dem Whip to Speak on Floor & Offer Senate Compromise And adjourns until Christmas Eve. This is a video of the feed cutting http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature...&v=wV71OKdEqRI "This morning, Speaker Pro Tempore Michael Fitzpatrick (R-PA), under orders from Speaker Boehner, refused to allow Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer to speak on the floor and ask for unanimous consent to bring up the Senate bipartisan compromise to extend the payroll tax cut. Whip Hoyer and Congressman Chris Van Hollen are continuing to try to offer the Senate compromise even though Republicans walked off the floor. Once again, Republicans are risking a tax increase on 160 million Americans and the loss unemployment benefits for those who have lost their jobs through no fault of their own."

In other words, Boehner knows that if Hoyer brought up the Senate compromise for a vote, all Dems and most Republicans would vote for it and it would pass in a bipartisan manner (it passed 89-10 in the Senate bipartisan) - but because the 80 GOP Tea Party people didn't want it to pass, out of 435 members, Boehner refuses to let it be voted upon.

Your GOP at work in Congress. Still the Senate Repubs have abandoned Boehner, leaving him here to hang out all by himself.

Yup. This is real. Not a joke, nor something just happening off in Washington people don't really have to pay any attention to.

OK I call BS! Who do you work for?

it's working for us. it won't happen but i really wish there was a way to prevent the house from reconvening to accept the senate bill.

i almost feel sorry for boehner. outside of obama, he has the hardest job in washington.

he made a bad call on this. he's constantly watching his back for the inevitable challange to his leadership and he's probably guaranteed it now.

he has to fold. take a bullet. at least if he had taken a stand against the right and accepted the senate bill earlier he could have avoided the damage to his own party.

Thank you $100 isn't going to change my life one way or the other.

Get back to work Senate - others are still working why aren't you?

********

How many jobs did u create?

And I'm not complaining. Out of all the taxes we pay the payroll tax is the fairest as it is equal. Get it now?

btw: why do you think human resources departments for large corporations (i work for one. it's ********) wouldn't need to be sending notices about changes in withholding?