As the deadline fast approaches, there is still no agreement on the Payroll Tax Cut Extension for two reasons. First, Republicans are threatening Main Street America with this tax increase, unless they can get some welfare for corporate criminals as a trade off. They want to attach the Keystone XL Pipeline. Second, Republicans accuse Democrats of having no way to pay for it. That, of course is a lie.

Lawmakers agreed in December, after much bickering, on a two-month extension, but that runs out at the end of this month. Obama said in his weekly radio and Internet address Saturday that Congress "needs to stop this middle-class tax hike from happening. Period. No drama. No delay." Obama said the economic recovery must not be jeopardized by a failure to stop payroll taxes from rising, and he urged listeners to add their voices. "I hope you’ll pick up the phone, send a tweet, write an email, and tell your representative that they should get this done before it gets too late. Tell them not to play politics again by linking this debate to unrelated issues. Tell them not to manufacture another needless standoff or crisis," Obama said. "Tell them not to stand in the way of the recovery. Tell them to just do their job. That’s what our middle class needs. That’s what our country needs." Lawmakers have made halting progress on legislation to extend the tax cut. The bill also would renew jobless benefits for the long-term unemployed and prevent doctors from a 27 percent cut in their payments from Medicare, the government health care program for the elderly. But the plan costs $150 billion-plus and lawmakers will have to find a way to pay for it… [emphasis added]

Inserted from <USA Today>

Here is the video, or if you prefer, the transcript.

Democrats, do have a way to pay for this, a tiny surcharge on people making over $1 million per year, but Republicans insist on blackmail.

Congressional Republicans said Thursday that negotiations over extending a payroll tax cut were going so poorly that it was possible the tax break — along with added unemployment benefits — could expire at the end of the month. If the benefits are allowed to lapse, it will be a stunning coda to a battle that has lasted months on Capitol Hill over whether and how to extend a two-percentage-point tax break for nearly every working American and to provide additional unemployment benefits for millions more. A temporary agreement forged in December cost Republicans politically and left both parties locked in another round of fights over how to cover the costs. In addition, Republicans are seeking numerous policy changes connected to unemployment benefits — like a mandatory high school equivalency program and possible drug testing for beneficiaries — that Democrats have rejected out of hand. They would also reduce the benefits to 59 weeks, far less than the 79 weeks sought by President Obama… [emphasis added]

Inserted from <NY Times>

This is not difficult to understand. Republicans want tax cuts for millionaires, billionaires, and corporate criminals only. Republicans want to raise YOUR taxes. They face the problem that the public is solidly against them on both extending the tax cut and on how to pay for it. So they are casting about, desperately seeking a way to pick YOUR pocket and blame it on the Democrats.

I urge you to support Obama’s request and make some noise.