No Payroll Tax Cut Deal Yet

Not so fast.

Just when it looked like Congress would agree to a two-month extension of the current payroll tax holiday, House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) yesterday threw cold water on the plan.

During an appearance on NBC’s ‘Meet the Press,’ Boehner said “It is pretty clear that I, and our members, oppose the Senate bill.”

Though the Senate voted 89-10 on Saturday to approve the measure, rank-and-file House Republicans reportedly leaned on Boehner and other GOP leaders to oppose the bill, and instead hold out for a full, one-year extension.

Last week, the House did, indeed, pass a full extension, but White House threatened to veto it because it included language that would have forced the administration to issue or reject a construction permit for the Keystone XL oil pipeline within 60 days.

But President Obama announced Saturday afternoon that he would begrudgingly support the Senate bill, which does include the Keystone rider.

It was assumed, perhaps wrongfully, that the House would sign off on the bill when it returned to session today. Now, the bill appears headed for failure when it is voted on this evening.

“I believe that two months is just kicking the can down the road,” Boehner said yesterday. “The American people are tired of that. Frankly, I’m tired of it.”