Image

6:50 PM / Tuesday April 30, 2024

26 Dec 2011

Obama uses public pressure to push GOP on tax cuts

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
December 26, 2011 Category: Week In Review Posted by:

Associated Press

 

WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama on Thursday chided House Republicans he said are holding up an extension of expiring payroll tax cuts, saying the debate is “about the American people.”

 

To make his point, Obama was flanked at the White House by people who said they would be stretched thin financially if Congress failed to extend the cuts before the end of the year. If no deal is reached, the White House says a person making $50,000 a year would see a loss of about $40 per paycheck.

 

“Now there may be some folks in the House who refuse to vote for this compromise because they don’t think 40 bucks is a lot of money,” Obama said. “But anyone who knows how to stretch a budget knows that at the end of the week or the end of the month, $40 can make all the difference in the world.”

 

In seeking to ratchet up pressure on Republicans for a deal, Obama reiterated his call for a two-month extension of the payroll tax cuts, a measure already agreed to by an overwhelming majority of Senators from both parties. He said the House GOP’s refusal to sign on to the bipartisan deal was exactly why the American people have grown so frustrated with Washington.

 

“This is an issue where an overwhelming number of people in both parties agree,” Obama said. “How can we not get that done? Has this place become so dysfunctional that even when people agree to things we can’t do it? It doesn’t make any sense. Enough is enough.”

 

House Republicans say they oppose the two-month deal because it doesn’t provide the public and businesses enough certainty They’ve called on Obama and Senate Democrats to negotiate a full-year extension instead.

 

Earlier Thursday, Obama called House Speaker John Boehner and committed to immediately starting talks on a full-year deal if the House first passes the two-month extension. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., has also urged the House to pass a short-term extension while starting work on the full-year deal.

  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Leave a Comment

Recent News

Sports

On The Brink of Elimination:

April 30, 2024

Tweet Email The Philadelphia 76ers are on the verge of yet another early playoff exit. ABOVE PHOTO:...

Philly NAACP

April 28, 2024

April 28, 2024

Tweet Email Tweet Email Related Posts Philadelphia Judicial Primary Candidates At A Glance Guide Philadelphia Judicial Candidates...

Health

Six ways to smell fresher from your pits to your bits

April 27, 2024

Tweet Email BPT There’s a funny thing about body odor. It’s not confined to your underarms. It...

Election 2024

Crush of lawsuits over voting in multiple states creates a shadow war for the 2024 election

April 28, 2024

Tweet Email ABOVE PHOTO: Allegheny County Election Division Deputy Manager Chet Harhut carries a container of mail-in...

Color Of Money

Experts say viewing your car as an investment can improve your finances

April 27, 2024

Tweet Email BPT In these inflationary times, the cost of owning a car seems to increase on...

Seniors

Finding your strength while living with Thyroid Eye Disease (TED)

April 22, 2024

Tweet Email BPT LaQuilla Harris, a devoted mother, grandmother and retired property manager, led a healthy and...

The Philadelphia Sunday Sun Staff