Lawmakers Reach Payroll-Tax Deal

After days of silence, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) is calling on the House GOP to pass the two-month payroll-tax-cut extension — and for Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (R-NV) to appoint negotiators to

22 (Bloomberg) — House Speaker John Boehner agreed on a plan to extend a US payroll-tax cut past its Dec. 31 expiration, backing down under pressure from Senate Republicans and President Barack Obama. The agreement capped five days of wrangling

By JANET HOOK And LAURA MECKLER WASHINGTON—House Speaker John Boehner, bowing to heavy pressure from fellow Republicans, agreed Thursday to a two-month extension of a payroll-tax break, ending a stalemate that had created a wedge within the party.

Reid: "I am grateful that the voices of reason have prevailed."

House Speaker John Boehner announced Thursday that he had agreed with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid on a two-month extension of a package including a payroll tax cut and an extension of unemployment benefits.