House Republicans Earn an Extra-Large Lump of Coal

It's tough to point to just one senator or representative as the Grinch who's threatening to steal Christmas — or at least the holiday spirit - from millions of middle-class Americans. There are just too many targets.

It could be Sen. Harry Reid and his fellow Democrats, who, along with Republicans in the Senate, reached a deal that kicks the can that holds the payroll tax cut and government spending down the road for all of two months. It could be U.S. Rep. John Boehner of Ohio and his fellow Republicans and Tea Party House members who Tuesday flatly rejected the deal.

We say, "Bah, Humbug!" to all of them, although we'd reserve a special lump of coal for Boehner's stocking.

Yes, the Senate deal was for a ridiculously short period of time, and it was merely putting off until February tough decisions that need to be addressed now. But its virtue lies in the fact that it did buy more time to reach those decisions. The Senate recognized that virtue by overwhelmingly approving the measure, 89-10. Only seven Republican senators voted against the measure. Two others did not vote.

By refusing to go along with a bipartisan compromise that included building an oil pipeline that Republicans favor, Boehner and the GOP members of the House are playing a dangerous game of brinkmanship.

Without the Senate deal, the payroll tax cut ends Jan. 1 for 160 million Americans, and their taxes go up an average of $1,000 for the year in 2012. At the same time, unemployment benefits could end for many more, and reimbursement for doctors who treat Medicare patients would be cut.

Boehner said House Republicans oppose the Senate bill "because the two-month extension will create more uncertainty for job creators in our country when millions of Americans are out of work." He also argued that "payroll processing companies say that the Senate bill is unworkable."

Uncertainty? What could create more uncertainty than throwing out the entire deal just days before Christmas and a little more than a week before a tax hike will go into effect unless something is done? And what could create more uncertainty than doing so after the Senate has adjourned?

Boehner wants the Senate to come back into session and work out another deal in the coming days that would extend the payroll tax cut for the full year.

But how likely is the Senate to trust a guy who reportedly initially supported the compromise and then backed off? And should senators trust Tea Party Republicans who like to think of politics as high-stakes poker and who could jeopardize any compromise that is reached?

President Barack Obama is right on these two points: This is not a game to the millions of Americans who face the loss of unemployment benefits or a stiff tax hike. And these Americans are tired of the brinkmanship from House Republicans.

But just to give them one more chance: Reid should call Boehner's bluff and bring the Senate into session for one more try at a compromise. And if the House GOP again refuses to reach a reasonable compromise, all those Americans hurt by the intransigence will know exactly who to blame in next year's elections.

REPRINTED FROM THE MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINAL

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