The original content of Democracy Now! Headlines appears under the Creative
Commons BY-NC-ND 3.0 License (United States). For more, including their other
shows and media, visit www.democracynow.org.
December 23, 2011

Bohener Relents on Tax Cut Deal, Pushes Keystone 
-------------------------------------------------



House Republicans have backed down on their opposition to a bipartisan
Senate measure to extend a payroll tax cut set to expire at year’s
end. On Thursday, House Speaker John Boehner relented following growing
criticism from within his own party. Announcing a deal with Senate
Democrats, Boehner said a full-year payroll tax cut will be negotiated
through conference committee.

House Speaker John Boehner: "The Senate will join the House in
immediately appointing conferees with instructions to reach agreement in
the weeks ahead on a full, one-year payroll tax deduction, along with
unemployment reforms — and extension of unemployment (benefits)
— and the so-called doc-fix for two years. We expect that there
will, that these members will work expeditiously to complete the
one-year extension that all of us want."

Boehner had previously insisted on including a number of unrelated
proposals, including the Keystone XL oil pipeline from Canada. In his
remarks, Boehner said he retains hope that Keystone will be approved as
part of the long-term spending deal.

House Speaker John Boehner: "One important measure in this provision
that I want to highlight is the Keystone pipeline. As you know, this
project would create tens of thousands of jobs in our country. This jobs
project has broad support in the House and Senate. It is backed by a
broad-based coalition, and I hope the President will approve this
pipeline to put those Americans to work."



.