Reid: No more negotiations on payroll tax cut
December 19th, 2011
12:42 PM ET
3 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."

Filed under: Congress • Harry Reid • House • Taxes
soundoff (141 Responses)
  1. edvhou812

    The two major parties are so good at compromise. It really makes me to want to keep voting for members of the two major parties, because they do such a bang up job. (sarcasm)

    December 19, 2011 01:01 pm at 1:01 pm |
  2. Chuk

    Good. Say what you will about Reid, the guy has some backbone! Why bail out Boehner and his group of renegades? Give them a taste of their own inflexibility!

    December 19, 2011 01:02 pm at 1:02 pm |
  3. Robert

    We need to run all of these fools out of town in the next election-both parties. Harry Reed needs to be sent to the old folks home for his distortion of his thoughts and Boehner and Pelosi all need to be sitting in jail. Instead of blaming one party we the people need to stand together and say enough is enough. It is high time these idiots get sent packing and reminded that they are suppose to be representing the people not there own political parties. we have millions of people out of work and struggling to put food on the table while these morons on both sides of the political parties worry about going on Christmas vacation. Screw them all. I cannot wait till the next election. It is time for the people of America to say we dont need you worthless Senator and Congressmen. We want people in the Senate and Congress who can sit down like grown ups and start doing good for the country.

  4. Taylor

    Stay tough Reid

  5. Yawn

    Typical bickering over the little stuff.

  6. Four and The Door

    The tax cut without spending cuts to match it is a bad idea to begin with. It is a political scam that puts our government and Social Security in worse shaped than it already is. Speaker Boehner made his position clear on this. I expect him to hold firm. No short term extension. If it passes, it should be for a year and it should be clearly paid for with spending cuts.

  7. Americaneedsrealists

    How in the world can a man like Harry Reid be in charge of the Senate. He is without a doubt one of the worst majority leaders we have ever had in this chamber. What really amazes me are the lemmings that believe him when he says the Republicans are to blame. This man's party could not pass a budget when they had control of the house and now every bill that comes to the Senate is DOA according to him. The Tea Party blew it in Nevada because anyone should have been able to defeat him the last time around. He is one of the biggest reasons we are where we are in this country right now. I hope the voters wake up in time for Nov.

  8. Nofa Kingweigh

    Tax the poor, give it to the rich. Destroy the middle class to enrich the wealthiest among us.

  9. T'sah from Virginia

    ►Reid: No more negotiations on payroll tax cut◄
    Tell 'em like it is and FINALLY stick to your gut
    The President has stated more than ONCE this issues is NOT for Show
    And if the bill comes to him with ATTACHMENTS he will hit it with a VETO

    The game is OVER Boehner – you woke up just a little too late
    You guys always want to play games with real LIVES on your slate
    We're TIRED of this because NONE of it makes any sense
    Pass the bill – argue later – you're LOSING w/5 seconds and NO play left on offense!!

    Obama 2012 – he will have the LAST say anyway so look to argue for a YEAR another day!!!

    December 19, 2011 01:05 pm at 1:05 pm |
  10. John Herzog

    Boehner is playing chess with people's lives....he may not think that it is much money but 160 million true Americans would probably disagree with him.

    December 19, 2011 01:06 pm at 1:06 pm |
  11. diridi

    Democrats, be united, and be strong. GOP drama is the biggest and nasty drama in nation's history. They want to push it with pipeline. Focus "Alternate Energy". o.k,

    December 19, 2011 01:07 pm at 1:07 pm |
  12. Shawn

    Reid proving to be a "great divider" like Obama.

  13. windycitybill

    Well Done Mr. Read, Nicely played.

    December 19, 2011 01:08 pm at 1:08 pm |
  14. Clint, Wa.

    Republicans have no idea of what bipartisan compromise means, as usual it is only their way or nothing.

    December 19, 2011 01:09 pm at 1:09 pm |
  15. hv19006

    Our senators and congressman are an embarrassment to every citizen of this country. Start working and stop worrying about your Holiday break!

  16. Mike

    Good. Have to draw the line somewhere. If the Senate could pass it then there is zero excuse for the House to even hesitate – even if Boehner is opposed to it; his caucus hardly votes in line with him anyways.

  17. johnny popper

    When he's playing with our money, he doesn't really care what the cost is. Reid is a nightmare to have at the reigns. Just an absolute nightmare and somehow, the guy stays in power. This latest fiasco of talking people out of saving for the future so he and his cohorts can stay in power in the short term is just the latest example of his work in a long history of initiatives bringing America down in the long run.

  18. Indy

    Republicans are ruthless tyrants that live a life of luxury while the middle class starves, and being that they are tyrants they want a do over on something they already voted and approved by 90%. Republicans are always wanting to hold the country hostage until the last minute and if given the chance they will try their best to ruin everyones Christmas and fill it with more stress.

    December 19, 2011 01:12 pm at 1:12 pm |
  19. coy4one

    This is why the Republicans will NOT be re-elected in 2012. They continue to use the American people as their tool to get Democrats to vote their way....This bill should NOT include anything else, but what it is suppose to include, but Republicans are in the pockets of the oil pipeline companies and keep sneaking it in. Keep it up're just putting nails into your coffins!!!

  20. BeverlyNC

    Stand strong Harry. These Republican obstructionist are at it yet again. Blackmail and lies and obstruction and not one single positive thing done by them for the American People. They have betrayed the People over and over for their sick political games. Come 2012 – we will rid the House and the Senate of ALL Republicans. They destroyed our economy and now are intentionally destroying the lives of the People they swore an oath to serve. ENOUGH of these hate-filled traitors of our nation. Vote straight Democratic in every local, state, and national election and we CAN restore jobs, the economy, education, common sense, and real values of character, honor, integirity and a working government again.

  21. HenryB

    Finally Senator Reid is showing some back bone against these awful Republicans. And we are thinking about giving the reins of power back to these mor0ns. Unbelievable where this once proud Republican party has gone. Simply unbelievable.

  22. Marcia Greenwood, IN

    And a Merry Christmas to the middle class from the House Republicans who did not have the same requirements for the rich, richer, and richest.

  23. realtalker

    Glad to see he's finally standing up to these loons. Not that he isn't one of these loons but at least he's doing something right in this case.

  24. Rudy NYC

    Like I've been saying, Senate Republicans "compromised" and voted for a two-month extension in overwhelming numbers. Sen. McConnell apparently led to Sen. Reid to believe that the legislation would pass in the House. As it turns out, House Republicans are rejecting the compromise worked out by Senate Republicans.

    Why have we heard so many kind words of House Republicans, claiming to want a one year extension? It's called setting up your opponent for a sucker punch. So why didn't Sen. McConnell negotiate for a one-year package? It's called a jab and weave. Why would Senate Republicans vote anything that didn't include the pipeline that they have been singing about? It's called holding out your hand. Why would House Republicans seeemingly vote against Senate Republicans? That's called delivering the sucker punch. Why would House Republicans start calling for a one year deal again? That's called the follow through.

    This is a strategy that is designed to change the discussion from why is the pipeline being injected into this discussion to "why are Democrats looking for a two month extension and Republicans are looking for a one year extension." So the discussion changes, but the pipeline is included in either scenario without further discussion. Magicians call it misdirection.

    December 19, 2011 01:13 pm at 1:13 pm |
  25. Anonymous

    Yay! Go Harry!

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