Senate Blocks Proposals to Extend Tax Cuts

The battle continues before the Dec 13th deadline

The battle continues in Congress over whether to extend payroll tax cuts and unemployment benefits that are set to expire December 31st as House Republican leaders Thursday proceeded with plans to vote next week on the proposal.

The Senate blocked competing Democratic and Republican proposals to extend the payroll tax cut from proceeding Thursday, with both failing to get the 60 votes necessary to pass a filibuster.

CNN Reports,

Senate Republicans halted the Democratic proposal on a 50-48 vote. It included a surtax on income over $1 million to help pay for the lower payroll tax rate. Republicans seeking to shrink the size of government oppose such a tax increase.

Opposition from both parties blocked the Republican measure on a 76-22 vote. It would have been paid for by freezing federal pay as well as reducing the federal workforce by 10%, provisions rejected by President Barack Obama and Democrats.

Debates are ongoing, and Party leaders and Obama will be voting on the matter heading into next week. Last week, Obama prodded Congress saying, “we’ll spend the holidays together,” until tax cuts and unemployment benefits are extended.