Republicans find themselves in a dilemma. They claim to be the party of tax cuts, and they don’t want you to know that the only tax cuts they really care about are for millionaires, billionaires and corporate criminals. They have already earned some very bad PR trying to block the payroll tax cut extension. With the need to renew it fast approaching, they can either keep holding workers hostage trying to blackmail Democrats for something they want, or they can give a tax cut to working people, without getting welfare for the super-rich in return, an anathema to Republicans. It appears that their early attempts at economic terrorism through blackmail are not working.

Senate Democrats have begun preparing a backup plan to extend a tax cut for workers if a special congressional negotiating committee fails to reach quick agreement, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said on Friday. Reid’s comments, in a conference call with reporters, were seen by some congressional aides as a signal to Republicans that he is prepared to play hard ball on an issue that favors Democrats in an election year. House of Representatives Speaker John Boehner, the top Republican in Congress, has struggled to convince rank-and-file members to lay aside their doubts about the stimulative effect of the tax cut. Party leaders fear being punished in the polls if it is allowed to expire at the end of the month. Word of Reid’s backup plan on the payroll tax cut ignited a sharp response from Boehner, who complained that Democrats had yet to offer any serious proposals in negotiations… [emphasis added]

Inserted from <Reuters>

Reid is not talking about what this backup plan may be, but I’m certain it will involve bringing measures to the Senate floor that force Senate Republicans to either approve the payroll tax cut extension, no strings attached, or filibuster to prevent its passage.