House (again) votes for early decision on payroll-tax conference

The House on Thursday morning again voted in favor of concluding the House-Senate conference on the payroll tax holiday extension by Feb. 17.

The House already passed an identical motion to instruct in late January. Nonetheless, Rep. Tim Bishop (D-N.Y.) brought up the motion again, which was debated Wednesday, and the House approved it Thursday on a 405-15 vote.

House and Senate conferees continue to meet on the legislation, H.R. 3630, in an effort to agree on an extension that both parties can support. The big question is how to pay for the extension — Republicans support spending cuts, including an extended pay freeze for federal workers, while Democrats continue to push for higher taxes on the wealthy.