Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) called out Republicans for leaving town for the weekend before the payroll tax cut was extended.
She also criticized the Republican proposal to extend the payroll tax cut as being “pointless” because it won’t pass the US Senate. The Republicans offered a different proposal to reduce the payroll tax to 3.1%. It includes easing barriour to allow the construction of the Trans-Canada Keystone XL pipeline.
"Keystone pipeline is a completely separate issue," Pelosi said. "It’s a poison pill."
Pelosi also said Obama's speech earlier in the week in Kansas "set the tone" on how to move forward for the remainder of the year.