WASHINGTON (Reuters) – In Congress’ tense drama over how to extend payroll tax cuts for 160 million Americans, it may be the most intriguing subplot: whether Republican House Speaker John Boehner is losing his grip on members of his own party.

Boehner and many Republicans scoff at the idea.

But the House’s rejection on Tuesday of a bipartisan Senate plan to extend the tax cuts for two months has raised questions about Boehner’s efforts to lead compromise-resistant House Republicans who have helped ratchet up the tension in Congress.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – President Barack Obama and fellow Democrats on Wednesday considered dropping their proposed surtax on millionaires in a bid to reach a deal with Republicans to extend a payroll tax cut for 160 million Americans set to expire at year’s end.

Obama discussed the possibility of abandoning the millionaire tax, which Republicans strongly oppose, at a White House meeting with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and other top Senate Democrats, a senior Senate Democratic aide told Reuters.

WASHINGTON, Dec 14 (Reuters) – The United States on
Wednesday faced the prospect of an imminent government
shutdown for the third time this year as a year-end fight
between Republican and Democratic lawmakers in Congress over
taxes and spending turned nastier.

Democrats, led by President Barack Obama, are refusing to
sign off on a bipartisan $1 trillion government funding bill
that would keep federal agencies operating beyond Friday. They
first want Republicans to agree to a compromise deal to extend a
payroll tax cut for 160 million Americans.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Republican and Democratic lawmakers were locked in an end-of-year fight on Tuesday that threatens a government shutdown, an effective tax hike for 160 million Americans and the loss of benefits for millions of unemployed.

With just days left to resolve the crisis, both parties accused each other of “playing politics” with Americans’ livelihoods even as they tried to gain the upper hand with a complex series of maneuvers on Capitol Hill.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – A Republican bid to force President Barack Obama to speed up approval of the Keystone XL Pipeline project looked set to pass the House of Representatives on Tuesday but will likely stall in the Democratic-controlled Senate, aides said.

Republicans have linked the proposed Canada-to-Texas oil pipeline to President Barack Obama’s efforts to extend a payroll tax cut for workers. Some economists warn that allowing the tax cut to expire could damage a fragile U.S. economic recovery.

WASHINGTON, Dec 11 (Reuters) – U.S. Senate Republican
Leader Mitch McConnell predicted on Sunday that Congress will
renew a popular payroll tax cut, but it remained unclear how
lawmakers will resolve deep differences before the Dec. 31
deadline.

While he did not unveil a new deal, McConnell signaled that
he and others anticipate having one soon.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Democratic and Republican lawmakers skirmished on Friday over plans to extend a payroll tax cut seen as crucial to a fragile U.S. economic recovery, but aides predicted a last-minute deal.

While independent economists say extending the tax cut would boost the economy at a critical time, both parties have been struggling to agree on a compromise deal in a rerun of this year’s budget battles that have knocked investor confidence in Washington’s ability to deal with its fiscal problems.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Democratic and Republican lawmakers skirmished on Friday over plans to extend a payroll tax cut seen as crucial to a fragile U.S. economic recovery, but aides predicted a last-minute deal.

While independent economists say extending the tax cut would boost the economy at a critical time, both parties have been struggling to agree on a compromise deal in a rerun of this year’s budget battles that have knocked investor confidence in Washington’s ability to deal with its fiscal problems.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Republicans on Tuesday blocked President Barack Obama’s nominee for a judgeship on a key appeals court, saying her views on gun rights and national security disqualify her.

Democrats fell six votes short of the 60 needed to overcome a Republican procedural roadblock against Caitlin Halligan, a former chief appellate lawyer for New York state.

WASHINGTON (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.