Republicans open to extending payroll tax break; demand offsetting cuts

By David Espo

Associated Press / December 1, 2011

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Republican congressional leaders stressed a willingness yesterday to extend a Social Security payroll tax cut due to expire at the end of the year, but they set up a clash with Democrats over how to pay for a provision at the heart of President Obama’s jobs program. The events in Congress, coupled with Obama’s fresh appeal for renewal of the payroll tax cut while speaking in Scranton, Pa., indicated that leaders in both parties want to seek a compromise less than a week after Congress’ high-profile supercommittee failed to find common ground on a longer-term economic issue, a plan to reduce deficits.

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