White House rejects Republican payroll tax proposal

[ProSense]

Source: Reuters

(Reuters) - The White House rejected on Friday the latest proposal from Republicans in Congress on a payroll tax cut, saying its costs needed to be offset in a balanced away and not with budget cuts exempting the rich.

"We are open to looking at other ways to pay for this, but they have to be economically responsible and fair," White House spokesman Jay Carney said. "It is important that the overall package meet the standards the president has set."

Republicans have proposed that the payroll tax cut be paid for with an extension of a pay freeze for federal workers, changes to civilian federal retiree benefits and other reforms, including gradual increases in Medicare health premiums for the elderly and a clampdown on assistance to illegal immigrants.

They have also sought to tie the payroll tax extension - a key component of President Barack Obama's $447 billion set of proposals to boost hiring - to the approval of TransCanada's Keystone KL pipeline, which would transport Canadian oil to Texas.


Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/12/09/us-taxes-payroll-whitehouse-idUSTRE7B81U520111209

[russspeakeasy]

1. This whole circus is stage managed so that the public at large

will not notice the trillions of dollars the banks and politicians are siphoning off the federal tax pool.
Let's not talk about the people who are hungry or cold. Let's not talk about the political seats that are being bought and sold. Let's all just bow our heads and remember; "it could be worse".."be sure to vote for your local democrat". Really ?
Let's get busy and bust some more OWS's, let's keep the low taxes for those "job providers". Let's put Timmy in charge of all the money. Let's listen to Larry Summers advice. Let's ignore Bernie Sanders.

Let's just talk about the payroll tax extension and who is and who isn't an appeaser; a couple more really good speeches should do it and the stupid public will lose interest. I had my rant. Bring on the list.

[DCKit]

2. Jeez, and I thought I was cynical.

Glad to see you've got my back... and my front.

[Hotler]

3. +1 n/t