Senate Approves Tax Deal
By: Big 2 News Staff
Updated: December 23, 2011
WASHINGTON, DC -- The Senate has approved a deal extending payroll tax cuts for two months.
Thus ends a lengthy and bitter legislative stalemate over extending the payroll tax holiday, which expires at month's end.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said Senate and House negotiators will soon start working on a year-long extension.
In a Capitol news conference, Reid said legislation is the "art of compromise." He argued that everything "does not have to end up in a fight."
Under enormous and growing pressure, House Republicans gave up their objections to a short-term extension and agreed to a deal with Senate Democrats.
The Senate vote was concluded quickly under a process known as unanimous consent. That is possible with the presence of only a couple of lawmakers and is accomplished if no one objects.
Thus ends a lengthy and bitter legislative stalemate over extending the payroll tax holiday, which expires at month's end.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said Senate and House negotiators will soon start working on a year-long extension.
In a Capitol news conference, Reid said legislation is the "art of compromise." He argued that everything "does not have to end up in a fight."
Under enormous and growing pressure, House Republicans gave up their objections to a short-term extension and agreed to a deal with Senate Democrats.
The Senate vote was concluded quickly under a process known as unanimous consent. That is possible with the presence of only a couple of lawmakers and is accomplished if no one objects.
