Congress Sends Payroll Tax Cut Bill To President
WASHINGTON (AP) - Congress has passed legislation renewing a payroll tax cut for 160 million workers and jobless benefits for millions more, backing the main items on President Barack Obama's jobs agenda in a rare burst of Washington bipartisanship.
The Senate approved the $143 billion measure by a bipartisan 60-36 vote. That tally came minutes after the House approved it by a sweeping 293-132 vote.
Obama is expected to sign it into law shortly after returning from a West Coast fundraising swing.
Under Friday's measure, workers would continue to receive a two percentage point increase in their paychecks and people out of work for more than six months would keep jobless benefits averaging about $300 a week. It would also head off a steep cut in reimbursements for physicians who treat Medicare patients.
Related Stories
- Congress sends payroll tax cut bill to Obama
- President Calls for Corporate Tax Cuts
- Senate Rejects Dem, GOP Business Tax Cut Bills
- President Obama Talks Easy Pleasey Lemon Squeezy With TV 20's David Snyder
- Reactions to President Obama's Immigration Order
- Poll Shows President Obama Ahead in Swing States
- President Obama Takes Credit for Auto Revival in Michigan
- President Obama Comments On Missile Defense
- President Obama And Gay Marriage Question
- Obama Campaign: Romney Can't Buy the Presidency
