Republican senators said Wednesday they will block all business in the chamber until Democrats tackle the long-overdue spending bills and impending tax increases, raising the level of brinkmanship to new heights even as House Democrats prepared to push ahead with a partisan tax vote Thursday.
House Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer said the chamber will vote on a bill that would extend the 2001 and 2003 tax cuts for most Americans, but would mean a tax increase for those making more than $250,000.
That vote comes even as a high-level working group organized by President Obama and congressional leaders met to try to make a binding deal, and even as Senate Republicans said they won't accept tax increases that could affect small businesses.
"It says that every Republicans will vote against proceeding to any legislative matter until we've funded the government and protected every taxpayer from a tax hike," said Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, Kentucky Republican. "Basically, first things first."
All 42 Senate Republicans - including Sen. Mark Steven Kirk of Illinois, who was sworn in Monday - signed a letter saying they will filibuster anything Democrats try to do "until the Senate has acted to fund the government and we have prevented the tax increase that is currently awaiting all American taxpayers."
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This is all about perception. We all know what the end result will be - extension of the tax cuts. But the GOP has to look tough to its constituents, the Dems will cry blackmail (which it kind of is)and the performance will go off as scheduled. Come on, Senate; quit the games and get to work - ALL of you.
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