After the U.S. Senate approved a bipartisan, two-month extension of a payroll tax break and unemployment insurance bill in a special Saturday session, the Republican-led House of Representatives plans to reject the bill and propose an amended version, according to a New York Times report.
On Saturday, the Senate voted 89-10 to pass a deal, which was a $33-billion package of measures that would extend the payroll tax cut, keep unemployment benefits and avoid Medicare cuts to physicians through the end of February, according to the report. Physicians face a 27.4 percent cut to their Medicare reimbursements via the sustainable growth rate if Congress does not pass a temporary reprieve.
However, Speaker of the House John Boehner (R-Ohio) said he and the rest of the GOP need to "resolve the differences and extend [the bill] for one year," according to the report. Last week, the House issued a two-year proposal on payroll tax cut, "doc fix" and other issues. The Senate bill will head back to the House tonight, with an amended version expected to be proposed.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) worked out the two-month compromise bill, and "neither side got everything they wanted," Sen. Reid said. Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) said House Republicans can either pass the Senate's bipartisan bill or "else they alone will be responsible for letting taxes rise on the middle class," according to the report.
On Saturday, the Senate voted 89-10 to pass a deal, which was a $33-billion package of measures that would extend the payroll tax cut, keep unemployment benefits and avoid Medicare cuts to physicians through the end of February, according to the report. Physicians face a 27.4 percent cut to their Medicare reimbursements via the sustainable growth rate if Congress does not pass a temporary reprieve.
However, Speaker of the House John Boehner (R-Ohio) said he and the rest of the GOP need to "resolve the differences and extend [the bill] for one year," according to the report. Last week, the House issued a two-year proposal on payroll tax cut, "doc fix" and other issues. The Senate bill will head back to the House tonight, with an amended version expected to be proposed.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) worked out the two-month compromise bill, and "neither side got everything they wanted," Sen. Reid said. Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) said House Republicans can either pass the Senate's bipartisan bill or "else they alone will be responsible for letting taxes rise on the middle class," according to the report.
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