WASHINGTON (Reuters) – With a tax cut for 160 million U.S. workers set to expire in less than two weeks, Republicans and Democrats in Congress on Monday were mired in a last-ditch battle over extending it.

In a surprise turnabout, Republicans in the House of Representatives are now pushing for a one-year extension of the payroll tax cut and have rejected a short-term compromise struck by Republicans and Democrats in the Senate at the weekend.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – A tax break for 160 million American workers was in doubt on Monday in the face of strong opposition from Republicans in the House of Representatives who have rejected a two-month extension overwhelmingly approved by the Senate over the weekend.

House Speaker John Boehner, the top Republican in Congress, demanded a fresh round of bargaining with the Democratic-controlled Senate to extend the payroll tax break through the 2012 election year.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The fate of an expiring tax break for 160 million American workers was in doubt on Sunday after the top Republican lawmaker distanced himself from a two-month extension just passed by Democrats and many fellow Republicans in the Senate.

House of Representatives Speaker John Boehner’s comments highlighted a divide between Republicans in the House and the 100-seat Senate, which passed the deal with 89 votes on Saturday.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Deeply divided U.S. lawmakers eked out an agreement on Friday to extend payroll tax cuts for just two months and only after Democrats bowed to Republican demands on a controversial oil pipeline.

The deal, which still needs the approval of the full Senate and House of Representatives, fell far short of President Barack Obama’s push for a one-year extension of the tax relief and long-term unemployed benefits to boost the country’s fragile economic recovery.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Lawmakers on Friday agreed to extend a payroll tax cut for two months after Democrats bowed to Republican demands to expedite approval of a controversial oil pipeline.

The deal, which still would have to be approved by the full Senate and House of Representatives, fell far short of President Barack Obama’s push for a one-year extension of the tax relief and long-term unemployed benefits to boost the country’s fragile economic recovery.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Lawmakers intensified efforts on Friday to extend payroll tax relief for Americans, and it appeared likely that language to speed approval of a controversial oil pipeline might be part of a deal.

With Senate leaders huddling in offices near the Senate chamber in search of a payroll tax cut deal, the House of Representatives separately approved a nearly $1 trillion funding bill to avert a government shutdown this weekend and keep federal agencies operating through to September 2012.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Lawmakers intensified efforts on Friday to extend payroll tax relief for Americans, and it appeared likely that language to speed approval of a controversial oil pipeline might be part of a deal.

With Senate leaders huddling in offices near the Senate chamber in search of a payroll tax cut deal, the House of Representatives separately approved a nearly $1 trillion funding bill to avert a government shutdown this weekend and keep federal agencies operating through to September 2012.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Republicans in the House of Representatives began to fall into line on Thursday behind a bill to extend an expiring payroll tax break after their leaders sweetened the measure with a provision that President Barack Obama has threatened to veto.

The move to link the popular tax cut to a controversial pipeline project, which Republicans say would create needed jobs, sets the stage for a partisan brawl certain to increase voter disgust with a gridlocked Washington at a time of economic struggle.

WASHINGTON, Dec 8 (Reuters) – Republicans in the U.S. House
of Representatives were falling into line on Thursday behind a
bill to extend a payroll tax break for workers after leaders
sweetened the legislation with a provision that has drawn a
veto threat from President Barack Obama.

The bill detailed by House Republican leaders in a closed
door session includes a measure requiring quick approval of the
Keystone XL pipeline that is to carry Canadian oil to Texas
refineries. Obama has delayed approval of the project for a
year to allow more review on its environmental impact.

WASHINGTON, Dec 5 (Reuters) – President Barack Obama
prodded congressional Republicans on Monday to extend a payroll
tax cut, and his fellow Democrats proposed to fund it with
spending cuts and a “tiny surtax” on the rich.

Republicans will likely reject the Democratic move, which
appears aimed at cranking up pressure on them to compromise and
find a way to renew the popular tax break in advance of next
year’s congressional and presidential elections.