is the candidate still making money from layoffs? we re checking the facts. i m wolf blitzer. i m wolf blitzer. you re in the situation room . captions by vitac www.vitac.com let s get right to the breaking news. a possible deal in the stalemate over extending the payroll tax cut for at least another two months, but potentially for the entire year. the year of 2012. we have all of our reporters standing by. let s go to our chief congressional correspondent, dana bash, he s up on capitol hill hill. for viewers just tuniing in, wht was just happened? what we expect is that the house republicans that they will not go for a short-term two-month extension of this payroll tax so that americans taxes will not go up on january 1st, we believe they are going to give in, back down on that and they will in fact go for it. this deal is being worked out, the final details of it as we speak. but our understanding, jessica yellin, kate bolduan and myself, basically what we re hearin
extension that was passed by the senate. today neither side shows any signs of giving in. i told the president there s one big reason why we need to do a full year, and that s jobs. a one-year bill like the president requested and like the house produced is simply better for jobs and better for our economy. let s enact this bipartisan compromise, however, to eliminate uncertainty for american families and then get right to work on a one-year version. not wait until february. not walk away and hold off until the last minute. got more encouraging news about the job market. the number of people filing first-time claims for unemployment benefits fell last week to the lowest level since april of 2008. labor department says initial claims dropped to 364,000. that is down 4,000 from a week before. many economists say a level below 400,000 means enough job growth to lower the unemployment rate. a wave of explosions rocks baghdad. car bombs, six roadside bombs, and a mortar ro
that s it. here to be partisan. we re not here to obstruct. we are here to serve. we voted for a terrific bill on december 13th with democratic colleagues for a full year, a full year of payroll tax relief, for two years of reassurance to medicare patients and doctors, for a full 13 months of extension of unemployment benefits as as served by the federal government. we voted to lift burdens on our small businesses in terms of depreciation on investment in growth. we voted for the keystone excel pipeline which fortunately still remained in the senate amendment, and that is a point of commonality. so we are seeking to work effectively. i m so sorry that i have to cut you short. we re running out of time. thank you you very much for joining us. thank you. we ll be right back with a very special seasons greeting. i habe a cohd.
amendment and instead to formally go to conference. the normal process in which the house and senate can resolve differences between the two chambers, and between our two bills. and i expect the house to take up legislation that reinforces the need to extend the payroll tax relief for a full year, rather than just two months. again to provide certainty for job creators. i think the best way to resolve the difference between the two-month extension and a full-year bill is to follow the regular order here in congress. when there is a disagreement between the two chambers we sit down at a conference and we solve those differences. that s exactly what i believe the house will do. the president has said repeatedly that no one should be going on vacation until the work is done. democrat leaders in the house and senate have said exactly the same thing. so i think it s time for the
disagree with the senate amendment, and instead vote to formally go to conference. the formal process in which the house and senate can resolve differences between the two chambers in between our two bills. and i expect the house to take up legislation that reinforces the need to extend the payroll tax relief for a full year rather than just two months. again, to provide certainty for job creators. and i think the best way to resolve the difference between the two-month extension and a full year bill is to follow the regular order here in congress. when there is a disagreement between the two chambers, we sit down at a conference and resolve those differences, and that s exactly what i believe the house will do. the president has said repeatedly that no one should be going on vacation until the work is done. democrat leaders in the house and senate have said exactly the same thing. so i think it s time for the