If there was ever a reason to give the President the line item veto - this is it. Congress (both D's and R's) have not covered themselves in glory on this one. No wonder they have a 9% approval rate. This is how I remember this whole mess coming down.
1. The House passes a one-year payroll tax cut extension along with the Unemployment Benefits package. BTW - they also include monies authorizing the Canadian oil pipeline.
2. This bill is sent over to the Senate. Obama will veto the bill if passed, he wants more study on the pipeline. The Senate can not figure out a way to pass the bill with the pipeline money and reach the desired effect. The Senate negotiates a two month extension, Unemployment Benefits, no pipeline (it passes 89-10, widespread D and R support) and sends it back to the House.
3. The House votes to not consider the Senate bill.
The Republican talking point is that the Dems want ONLY a 2 month extension and that is unworkable. The Democrat talking point is that the R's have raised taxes. And all of this with something that the two parties agree to. Both parties want a one year extension. Is this a classic definition of dysfunction? A pox on both their houses!
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"You're not a g*dda*n looney Martini, you're a fisherman"
R.P. McMurphy - One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest
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