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| Obama and Congress renew payroll tax cut standoff | Obama and Congress renew payroll tax cut standoff |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| US President Barack Obama and House leaders remain deadlocked over a deal to extend a payroll tax cut due to expire at the end of the year. | US President Barack Obama and House leaders remain deadlocked over a deal to extend a payroll tax cut due to expire at the end of the year. |
| In a speech, the president blamed lack of progress on a Republican "faction". | |
| He also told House Speaker John Boehner by phone that he would begin talks on a full-year deal as soon as the House passed an interim bill. | |
| Mr Obama has postponed a family trip to Hawaii, saying he will not leave Washington until a deal is struck. | Mr Obama has postponed a family trip to Hawaii, saying he will not leave Washington until a deal is struck. |
| If Congress fails to act, an estimated 160 million Americans will see their payroll taxes rise on 1 January 2011. | If Congress fails to act, an estimated 160 million Americans will see their payroll taxes rise on 1 January 2011. |
| The president said that conservatives in the House of Representatives were blocking passage of a bill that most Democrats and Republicans had agreed to. | |
| "This is exactly why people get so frustrated with Washington," Mr Obama said. | |
| He accused those who oppose the deal of not appreciating how important the tax credit would be to American workers. | |
| Surrounded by a group of supporters, the president read out messages from voters who said the tax credit would help them pay their heating bills, visit elderly relatives and treat their families to pizza dinners. | |
| Greater certainty | Greater certainty |
| Mr Obama warned that failure to pass an extension of the measures would hit the overall economy, as well as individual families. | |
| He referred to recent, encouraging economic data that he said could be reversed by a rise in their take-home income. | |
| The president highlighted a statement from Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, the top Republican in the Senate, who urged House Republicans on Thursday to accept a plan that was approved in the Senate on Saturday with an overwhelming majority of 89-10. | |
| Passage of the interim deal would also set the clock ticking for the White House to make a decision on the disputed Keystone XL pipeline project from Canada to the US Gulf Coast, he said. | Passage of the interim deal would also set the clock ticking for the White House to make a decision on the disputed Keystone XL pipeline project from Canada to the US Gulf Coast, he said. |
| Mr McConnell also called on Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid to appoint negotiators to work on a year-long extension of the measures. | Mr McConnell also called on Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid to appoint negotiators to work on a year-long extension of the measures. |
| "House Republicans sensibly want greater certainty about the duration of these provisions, while Senate Democrats want more time to negotiate the terms. | "House Republicans sensibly want greater certainty about the duration of these provisions, while Senate Democrats want more time to negotiate the terms. |
| "These goals are not mutually exclusive. We can and should do both." | "These goals are not mutually exclusive. We can and should do both." |
| Mr McConnell's comments break days of silence from Senate Republicans on the standoff unfolding in Washington. | Mr McConnell's comments break days of silence from Senate Republicans on the standoff unfolding in Washington. |
| Economic stimulus | Economic stimulus |
| In an exchange of phone calls with the president on Thursday, Mr Boehner refused to compromise on his position, instead calling on the president to send economic aides to a Capitol Hill negotiating table. | In an exchange of phone calls with the president on Thursday, Mr Boehner refused to compromise on his position, instead calling on the president to send economic aides to a Capitol Hill negotiating table. |
| He has argued that a two-month extension of the measures would not give certainty to job-creators, preferring to extend the tax holiday for a full year. | He has argued that a two-month extension of the measures would not give certainty to job-creators, preferring to extend the tax holiday for a full year. |
| "The fact is, we can do better. Americans are still asking the question, where are the jobs?" he said. | "The fact is, we can do better. Americans are still asking the question, where are the jobs?" he said. |
| But Republicans and Democrats have been unable to agree on how to fund a year-long extension of the payroll tax cut. | But Republicans and Democrats have been unable to agree on how to fund a year-long extension of the payroll tax cut. |
| Some conservative Republicans were initially sceptical about extending the payroll tax measure, which economists have said would provide some stimulus to the fragile economic recovery. | Some conservative Republicans were initially sceptical about extending the payroll tax measure, which economists have said would provide some stimulus to the fragile economic recovery. |
| The deal would also extend benefits for the long-term unemployed and put off harsh cuts to doctors' Medicare fees. | The deal would also extend benefits for the long-term unemployed and put off harsh cuts to doctors' Medicare fees. |