Lawmakers Deadlock Over Tax Cut. Many - including the Cracker Squire - don't believe that the payroll tax cut is an effective way to spur economic growth anyway. What we see now is a stalling action on the part of those who were never for a payroll tax cut in the first place. Dyfuction is returning and some might argue working.

Rep. Allen West (R., Fla.) criticized the Senate's legislation Monday.

From The Wall Street Journal:

At issue is a bill that would extend for two months the lower payroll-tax rate that workers currently pay to fund Social Security, as well as federal jobless benefits for the long-term unemployed and a measure to extend current Medicare reimbursement rates for doctors.

If Congress doesn't reach a deal by the end of the year, workers will see their payroll taxes revert to 6.2% of earnings, from the current 4.2% rate.

At the core of the Republican opposition was the cadre of tea-party-backed freshmen who have made it hard all year for Mr. Boehner to steer his party to compromises dictated by divided government.

"This freshman phenomenon that happened in 2010 is beginning to flex its muscle and let its voice be heard," said one member of the group.