House kills an hour debating already-approved motion to instruct

The House on Wednesday evening killed an hour by debating a motion to instruct House conferees to finish work by Feb. 17 on a bill to extend the payroll tax holiday for a full year, even though the House already approved an identical resolution in late January.

Rep. Tim Bishop (D-N.Y.) called up his motion to instruct, which prompted an hour-long debate in which Republicans and Democrats took turns blaming each other for hindering progress toward the payroll tax holiday extension. Bishop led the debate for Democrats, and Rep. Greg Walden (R-Ore.) led debate for Republicans.

A House vote on Bishop's motion is expected Thursday. The House on Jan. 24 approved an identical motion to instruct House members in negotiations with the Senate.

Members of the House and Senate conference on the payroll tax bill, H.R. 3630, met again this week in an effort to reach a final agreement on a longer extension. Republicans have pushed for language in the bill that pays for the extension with spending cuts, such as a federal worker pay freeze, while Democrats have proposed higher taxes on the wealthy.