The White House on Friday rejected the Republican payroll tax proposal that would include a pay freeze for overpaid federal workers and approval of TransCanada’s Keystone XL pipeline. The White House says it’s not fair.
The Keystone project would create 20,000 construction jobs.
(Bob McCarty)
Reuters reported:
The White House rejected on Friday the latest proposal from Republicans in Congress on a payroll tax cut, saying its costs needed to be offset in a balanced away and not with budget cuts exempting the rich.
“We are open to looking at other ways to pay for this, but they have to be economically responsible and fair,” White House spokesman Jay Carney said. “It is important that the overall package meet the standards the president has set.”
Republicans have proposed that the payroll tax cut be paid for with an extension of a pay freeze for federal workers, changes to civilian federal retiree benefits and other reforms, including gradual increases in Medicare health premiums for the elderly and a clampdown on assistance to illegal immigrants.
They have also sought to tie the payroll tax extension – a key component of President Barack Obama’s $447 billion set of proposals to boost hiring – to the approval of TransCanada’s Keystone XL pipeline, which would transport Canadian oil to Texas.
The State Department has delayed a decision on that project until 2013 to give more time to address environmental concerns and to study an alternate route for the pipeline.
The Keystone XL pipeline would create at least 20,000 new jobs. No wonder they hate it.
Worst. President. Ever.
