Boehner Abandons Temporary Payroll Plan, Pushes Year-Long Deal

Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) announced Monday that the lower chamber will be pursuing a one year plan to extend payroll relief after House Republicans balked at supporting a two-month extension passed through the Senate.

“A two month extension creates uncertainty,” Boehner said during a press briefing Monday. “No more kicking the can down the road.”

Boehner said the House will still vote on the temporary extension, but that his colleagues will likely reject the Senate’s proposal and instead ask for additional negotiations between the two chambers.

Without Congressional action, payroll relief will expire on January 1st, bringing taxes on Americans’ paychecks from 4.2 percent to 6.2 percent. The White House has continually warned that an expiration means Americans will be paying an additional $1,000 on average next year.

Boehner denied Monday that he was fully on-board with the two month extension, explaining that he believed the inclusion of language that would require the White House to make a decision on the construction of the Keystone pipeline was a victory, but that he had always voiced reservations over a temporary fix.

The two-month extension passed through the upper chamber with overwhelming 89-10 support.