Boehner: Full-Year Payroll Tax Cut Extension Needed to Give Job Creators Certainty They Need to Put Americans Back to Work

Press Conference

At a press conference today, Congressman John Boehner (R-West Chester) reiterated the need for a full-year extension of the payroll tax cut to provide certainty for job creators, and previewed a House vote this evening to request a formal conference to resolve differences between the two chambers. Following are video and text of Congressman Boehner's remarks:

BOEHNER: "A TWO-MONTH EXTENSION CREATES UNCERTAINTY & WILL CAUSE PROBLEMS FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE TRYING TO CREATE JOBS":

"Americans are tired of Washington's short-term fixes and gimmicks, which are creating uncertainty for job creators at a time when millions of Americans are out of work. Democrats and Republicans agree that the payroll tax cut needs to be extended for a full year to provide the kind of relief THAT Americans need in this struggling economy. The House last week passed a bill to do just that -- but instead of passing the House bill or another bill which extended the payroll credit for a year, the Senate Democratic leaders passed a two-month extension, punting the problem into next year.

"We oppose the Senate bill because doing a two-month extension instead of a full year extension causes uncertainty for job creators. I used to run a small business, I met a payroll, I hired workers. A two-month extension creates uncertainty and will cause problems for people who are trying to create jobs in the private sector. The idea that tax policy can be done two months at a time is the kind of activity that we see here in Washington that's really put our economy off its tracks.

"Last week both chambers worked together to pass a full-year bill to fund our government. And I don't think this issue is any different. It's time for Congress to do its work. No more kicking the can down the road."

BOEHNER: HOUSE WILL SEND HOUSE-SENATE PAYROLL TAX CUT BILLS TO CONFERENCE TO RESOLVE DIFFERENCES:

"Tonight the House will vote on the Senate-passed bill. This is a vote on whether Congress will stay and do its work, or go on vacation. I expect that the House will 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 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. And I think the best way to resolve the difference between the two-month extension and the full-year bill is to follow the regular order here in Congress. When there's a disagreement between the two chambers we sit down in a conference and resolve those differences. And that's exactly what I believe the House will do."

BOEHNER: NO VACATION UNTIL WE "FINISH THE NATION'S BUSINESS":

"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 Senate Democrat leaders to follow the president's example, put their vacations on hold, and work in a bipartisan manner to finish the nation's business."

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