Payroll tax conferees likely to meet in mid-January

A congressional conference committee created to hammer out a longer extension of the payroll tax cut will likely not convene for at least another 10 days, Hill aides from both parties have suggested.

The 20 lawmakers on the panel will instead probably meet for the first time the week of Jan. 16 — the same week House members are due back for this year’s session.

That would give the conference committee about six weeks to hash out a yearlong extension of the payroll tax cut, which was first enacted in late 2010. The panel will also look at federal unemployment benefits and the doctor reimbursement rate under Medicare — the so-called “doc fix.”

While the conference committee itself might not meet until the middle of the month, staffers have started laying the groundwork for the panel’s discussion, aides say.

Congress extended the payroll tax relief through February last month after a prolonged political battle. Under the cut, workers pay a 4.2 percent payroll tax rate, down from 6.2 percent.

Meanwhile, House Democrats are looking to get a head start on the conversation, with meetings planned for both Wednesday and Thursday.

Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) will sit down with members of the caucus at a dinner tonight, while the House Democratic Policy and Steering Committee is scheduled to meet on Thursday.

According to a leadership aide, the House Democrats will delve into the conference committee and job creation in general. “We’ve got work to do,” the staffer said.

Pelosi and Democratic conferees, among others, will also hold a news conference tomorrow.

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