WASHINGTON ? Sen. Mitch McConnell does not high-five easily or often. But a deal to keep American workers’ taxes from rising on Jan. 1 was reason enough for the coolest negotiator in the Senate to lift a hand on camera and slap ? or pat ? some skin. His celebration was premature. Furious House Republicans [...]
WASHINGTON?? The Senate voted Saturday to temporarily avert a Jan. 1 payroll tax increase and benefit cutoff for the long-time unemployed, but forcing a reluctant President Barack Obama to make an election-year choice between unions and environmentalists over whether to build an oil pipeline through the heart of the country. With the [...]
WASHINGTON ? Congressional negotiations over a bill extending a payroll tax cut and unemployment benefits can begin as soon the Senate rejects a version the House approved despite a White House veto threat, the Senate’s top Democrat said Wednesday. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid wants his chamber to vote quickly on the House payroll tax [...]
WASHINGTON ? Democrats are abandoning their demand for a surtax on millionaires to help finance payroll tax cuts in a sign that lawmakers are trying to broker a compromise on Congress’ highest-profile year-end dispute. Even so, there is no clear path to quick bipartisan agreement on the legislation, which would prevent an automatic Social Security [...]
WASHINGTON ? House and Senate negotiators have agreed on a sweeping $662 billion defense bill that revises a provision on handling suspected terrorists that had drawn a presidential veto threat. Leaders of the Armed Services Committee announced the agreement on Monday. They said they hoped lawmakers could complete the policy bill on Wednesday and send [...]
