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 27, 2011

Obama Signs Two-Month Extension on Payroll Tax; Decision on Tar Sands Pipeline Now Required 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------



In news from Washington, President Obama signed a two-month extension of
the payroll tax cut on Friday after House Republican backed down on
their opposition to the bipartisan Senate measure. Obama called on
Congress to extend the tax break for a full year.

President Barack Obama: "And when Congress returns, I urge them to keep
working, without drama, without delay, to reach an agreement that
extends this tax cut, as well as unemployment insurance, through all of
2012. Last week, I said that this should be a formality, and that's
still the case. So let's make sure that we extend this tax break and
unemployment insurance for a full year for families, but also for our
economy. It's the right thing to do because more money spent by more
Americans means more businesses hiring more workers. And that's a boost
for everybody, and it's a boost that we very much need right now."

The tax break bill signed by President Obama also contains language
pertaining to the Keystone XL tar sands oil pipeline. The bill requires
the Obama administration to make a decision on granting Trans Canada a
permit on the pipeline by late February. Republicans added the provision
to the bill after the Obama administration said it would delay making a
decision on the project until after the 2012 election.



.