Today's news quiz

So here is a quote from White House communications director Dan Pfeiffer:

"It's time House Republicans stop playing politics and get the job done for the American people."

Today's quiz is this: what is the subject about which Pfeiffer was speaking? How were the Republicans playing politics?

Here's the answer: The House Republicans have said that they are dissatisfied with the two month extension of the payroll tax passed in the senate. House Republicans say this is just kicking the can down the road which will lead to the same issue coming to the fore again in January. House Republicans say that they want to resolve the extension for the entire year.

In order to understand this better, one needs to know that the two month extension was a last minute stopgap bill that would let the senators go home for vacation without having to make the hard choices required with a full year extension. So the House Republicans are in favor of responsible behavior rather than opting for Christmas vacations, but they get labelled as the ones "playing politics".

I think we need more people "playing politics" like this.

UPDATE: The non-partisan National Payroll Reporting Consortium, Inc is out with a report today thatconcludes that the two month extension of the payroll tax will cause massive problems for businesses that have to adjust their payrolls to the new system. According to this group, most businesses use software to figure out withholding from employees. Becuase the payroll tax as passed by the senate for the next two months is so complicated, there will not be time to prepare and test the necessary computer prorams for the nations businesses. So once again, a government program intended to help grow the economy will lead to a massive snafu of red tape and extra costs burdening businesses. It seems the House GOP is correct; a full year extension is needed.