Payroll Tax Could Face Vote Today

The payroll tax cut could see a vote today under a GOP measure linking it to the controversial Keystone XL oil pipeline. House Republicans, who have been fighting the tax cut, want to tie approval of the extension to approval of the pipeline, which would bring oil through Canada to Texas. But President Obama has said he'd shut down any attempt to pair the two, CNN notes.

On top of that, House Majority Whip Kevin McCarthy has told Republican leaders he hasn't cobbled together the votes needed to pass the package. And the complications don't stop there: Harry Reid has told John Boehner that he won't take action on the new budget bill until a payroll tax cut deal has been reached—but Senate Democrats have yet to release their own plan for the tax cut. It's all adding up to more Congressional gridlock, Politico reports. (More payroll taxes stories.)