In the face of strong opposition from members of his own party, President Obama says that he’s confident lawmakers will eventually approve a tax cut deal he negotiated with congressional Republicans.
“Nobody — Democrat or Republican — wants to see people’s paychecks smaller on Jan. 1 because Congress didn’t act,” the president said Thursday in an interview with NPR’s Morning Edition.
Obama spoke after House Democrats voted to reject the deal in its present form. The plan includes a two-year extension of Bush-era tax cuts even for income above $250,000 and a lighter government levy on multi-million-dollar estates — both are provisions that many Democrats strongly object to. The deal would also extend jobless benefits for 13 months for the long-term unemployed.
The president told host Steve Inskeep that he expects further discussion among House and Senate leaders, but no big changes in the broad outline of the tax cut plan.
Full Story: Obama ‘Confident’ Congress Will Pass Tax Deal : NPR