I was hoping to report that the Senate had taken up the payroll tax cut extension issue today and tossed out the ridiculous plan hatched last week for a two month extension. But, no.
Sen. Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) has indicated that the Senate will not take up the matter until the House passes the version previously approved by Senate. He said:
I will not re-open negotiations until the House follows through and passes this agreement that was negotiated by Republican leaders, and supported by 90 percent of the Senate. This is a question of whether the House of Representatives will be able to fulfill the basic legislative function of passing an overwhelmingly bipartisan agreement, in order to protect the economic security of millions of middle-class Americans.
Um, Senator Reid? Might I suggest that 90% of the Senate is just flat wrong? The bill as it stands is unworkable. It’s pure politics.
This isn’t rocket science. Extend the cuts a year or don’t extend them at all. But don’t leave us with a half-baked bill simply so that you can say that you did something… all while creating more confusion and expense for taxpayers. We deserve better.
You have 12 days to fix it. Just 12 days.
