Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid increased pressure on congressional Republicans on Wednesday, threatening to keep Congress in session through the Christmas holiday.
“We’re not going to leave town until it’s complete,” Mr. Reid said at a press conference today in Washington. “We can do it the easy way or we can do it the hard way.”
The Nevada Democrat, who has sided with President Obama in calling for the extension of the payroll tax cut, has faced criticism and opposition from congressional Republicans in recent weeks. The Senate recently sought to pass an extension of the payroll tax cut, which failed to the pass the Democratically-controlled body.
Speaking Wednesday, Mr. Reid said he has the backing of President Obama, noting that a meeting with president pledged to put off a vacation until Congress finishes its business. Mr. Reid, paraphrasing, said Mr. Obama told the leaders “Michelle and the girls will have a great time in Hawaii;they don’t need me.”
In issuing the threat, the Nevada Democrat said he remains confident lawmakers will reach a deal to secure an extension of the payroll tax cut.
“We will make sure we pass this tax cut for the middle class and we are not going to go home until we make sure it’s complete,” said Mr. Reid. “We can do it the easy way or we can do it the hard way.”
Mr. Reid filed for cloture on Wednesday. The bill, presented by Democrats on Monday, would extend the payroll tax holiday by levying a surtax on wealthy Americans, at about $85 billion less than what was included in a similar extender bill defeated in the Senate last week. The proposed reduction, put forth by Sens. Claire McCaskill and Susan Collins, it the latest compromise to emerge.
Unless lawmakers act by Dec. 31, the Social Security payroll tax — which was cut to 4.2 percent in 2011 — will return to 6.2 percent next year.
