WATCH: Obama Relieved To Get Payroll Extension Done

Speaking to reporters at the White House today President Obama said he was pleased that the deal got done. He thanked all members of Congress and made the following remarks; Every working American keeps their tax cut. Vital unemployment insurance continues. When members return, without drama or delay, they should reach agreement through all of 2012. It should be a formality. This is important for families and the economy.

He thanked Americans for bringing their voices to the debate, which takes courage to think that your voice makes a difference. It’s a reminder to people in this town; They did not send us here to play partisan games, but to serve. It is good news. There is a lot more work to do.

This is a make or break moment for the middle class, he said. The economy is showing some positive signs. We must redouble our efforts. Everyone should play by the same rules and have a fair chance. That is the country the American people deserve and want. Merry Christmas to everyone. A special Happy Christmas to all the men and women in uniform.

The President finished by saying, “Aloha.” He then walked out of the press briefing room and within five minutes, had boarded Marine One on his way to Joint Base Andrews in suburban Maryland. There, he’ll board Air Force One and fly to Hawaii to spend Christmas with the rest of the First Family.

Boehner Blinks, Says He'll Pass Senate Payroll Extension

Congress will convene today in hopes of approving a stopgap measure renewing payroll tax cuts for middle-class workers and unemployment benefits for millions - despite serious opposition among many rank-and-file House Republicans.

House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) caved Thursday afternoon after intense pressure and criticism from President Obama and congressional Democrats - but most notably, perhaps, from GOP notables like Karl Rove and the Wall Street Journal, along with Sens. Scott Brown (Mass.), John McCain (R-Ariz.) and Bob Corker (Tenn.) In a brief statement, Boehner said Republicans had won new provisions that would protect businesses from certain payroll reporting requirements.

He broke the news to fellow GOP members in an eight-minute conference call, in which no open mic session was held so no questions could be asked. Boehner said he didn’t know whether any lawmaker would object, but was prepared to call the House back into session next week to pass the bill.

Today’s House and Senate sessions are very unusual and tense since both chambers have technically recessed. Leaders will try to pass the short term agreement under debate rules that would allow any individual member of Congress to derail the pact, at least for a time.

Rep. Mo Brooks (Ala) said he may do exactly that. “The US Senate’s bill is horrific policy founded on political expedience and holiday schedules,” he said after the conference call. Likewise, Freshman Rep. Mike Kelly (Pa.) added “I’m not so sure I’m not going to” drive to Washington to protest the unanimous consent agreement.

In a statement released by the White House Thursday evening, President Obama said, “this is good news, just in time for the holidays…This is real money that will make a real difference in people’s lives.”

The wheels to a deal were set in motion yesterday when Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) called on the House to pass the 60-day extensio and for the Senate to appoint conferees to negotiate next month. House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-Va.) has pledged that the two sides will be able to quickly iron out their differences.

Should today’s unanimous consent vote pass, the bill will then go to President Obama for signature to become law for two months. This, of course, will set off a heated January showdown over how to offset the cost of continuing the two percent tax cut and long-term jobless benefits averaging $300 a week, as well as preventing doctors from absorbing a 27% cut in Medicare payments for another ten months.

Geoff Holtzman contributed to this report.

Payroll Tax Fight Beginning To Frustrate Obama

President Obama appeared visibly annoyed on Thursday, chiding House Republicans for refusing to get behind a temporary payroll tax cut extension passed by the Senate this past weekend.

Surrounded at the podium by a handful of individuals who would benefit from a continuation of the current tax holiday, Obama struck an incredulous tone as he lamented the ongoing impasse that threatens to end the tax relief at the end of the year.

“What’s happening right now is exactly why people just get so frustrated with Washington,” the President said. “This isn’t a typical Democratic-versus-Republican issue. This is an issue where an overwhelming number of people in both parties agree. How can we not get that done? I mean, has this place become so dysfunctional that even when people agree to things we can’t do it? It doesn’t make any sense.”

“Enough is enough,” he added.

Notes From Today's White House Press Briefing

LATEST ON PAYROLL TAX NEGOTIATIONS:

Press Secretary Jay Carney said the bipartisan compromise exists, it is embodied in the Senate bill and is available now for the House to vote on. House leadership has refused to allow the House to vote. Speaker Boehner should reconsider and allow the House to vote. We’re confident it would pass.  There’s a growing chorus of Republicans calling on Boehner to do the right thing and pass this compromise.

President Obama was the first to put it on the table. It is not that difficult. The House has the ability to call up that legislation. We urge them to do that. Obama is committed to the one year tax cut. He’s pushed for it since September. It would require finishing the work McConnell and Reid started. They can explain to the 160 million people why House Republicans would not listen to their Senate colleagues, elder statesmen. The ball’s in the House’s court. (Quotes Sen Corker and Sen McCain criticizing House Republicans.)

This is not a game of high stakes poker or a quid pro quo. There was a bipartisan deal reach. The deal passed in the Senate was a compromise, including extraneous political victory that Republicans insisted on.  No scheduled updates on the President’s travel schedule. Negotiation has happened. Compromise worked … with the approval, even the instigation, of the Speaker. Very concerned about the macro and micro economic effect on growth. Independent economists say it could have a negative effect up to 25% (I think that’s what I heard) GDP. We believe it will get done.House Republicans will see about exercising their authority at the demand of the American people. It’s not giving Obama a victory. On the micro, we’re worried about individual families. The House is not behaving in the interests of the country.

(When told that Boehner has responded to the President’s readout and says we can get a year long deal done today) We disagree because we need to be sure that taxes don’t go up. Because of the debt ceiling debate when the Republicans were willing to keep coming back every few months and risk uncertainty, their concern over uncertainty now seems hollow. Asked whether he should reach out to the Speaker to help him, Carney said the president’s doing everything he can to help the American people. The Speaker’s able to help himself. The important thing is not who’s up and who’s down politically. The last thing is to fail to pass the payroll tax. There is a clear avenue - shining a light on the cul de sac - vote on a bill. it seems not that much of an ask. Obama will sign a one year at current levels.

FALLOUT FROM ENDING WAR IN IRAQ:

Their progress has often been hard won. We will continue to expect difficult days ahead. Progress is substantial. Nonsensical to suggest troops should not have left (paraphrase). Robust important relationship with Iraq. We worked with Iraq on the political process. Important that they pursue a representative government so everyone’s interests are represented.

SITUATION IN NORTH KOREA:

We’re monitoring the situation. Regarding Kim Jung-Un, there is no indication that he has changed as successor.

WAR IN AFGHANISTAN:

We are in the process of drawing down. By the end of 2014 we will have turned over full security lead to Afghanistan. Part of the process may include troops in support. We have met the goal of this year for drawdown. There will be continued reduction as we turn more of the country over to Afghanistan. We will make decisions at the appropriate time. Anything past 2014 will be at the invitation of the Afghan government.

ONGOING VIOLENCE IN SYRIA:

Worked to increase pressure, isolation. Continuation horrific violation. Diplomats are leaving, oppositions is more unified, more defectors, financial duress, pressure from the Arab League,the regime will come to an end - only fear is holding it together. The writing is on the wall. More international members are joining the call to end the atrocious behavior.

RECESS APPOINTMENTS?:

No announcements or speculation. We’re not relinquishing any rights. May nominees have been unnecessarily blocked. (Details) The effect is very damaging. It’s a constant, growing problem. The practice should stop. Contrary abomination Senate behavior.

WATCH: Obama Calls On House To OK Temporary Payroll Extension

President Obama made a surprise appearance in front of White House reporters today to urge House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) and the rest of his conference to quickly approve a Senate bill to extend the current payroll tax holiday for another two months.

Obama unexpectedly entered the briefing room to interrupt his top spokesman, Jay Carney, and send a direct message to Boehner and other House leaders.

“I need the Speaker and House Republicans to…put politics aside. Put aside issues where there are fundamental disagreements and come together on something we agree on. And let’s not play brinksmanship. The American people are weary of it. They’re tired of it. They expect better. I’m calling on the Speaker and the House Republican leadership to bring up the Senate bill for a vote.”

“Right now the bipartisan compromise that was reached on Saturday is the only viable way to prevent a tax hike,” Obama added.

Just a short while before Obama made his remarks, the House voted to move to conference on a measure it passed last week to extend the two percent tax cut for one whole year. The vote essentially served as a rejection of the temporary extension, which the Senate passed on Saturday by a vote of 89-10.

Though Boehner has already appointed eight conferees, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) has yet to do the same. When asked whether Obama would lean on Reid to follow suit, Carney replied, “the House oughtta pass the [Senate] measure.”

Later, when asked why leaders don’t take a few days off from negotiations and re-visit the issue next week, Carney replied, “there is a very easy solution here, pass the Senate bill.”