Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) failed to get a vote on the House payroll tax bill, which the House passed yesterday. An objection was raised by Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY). Because of the objections raised, it is unknown when the Senate will begin debate and vote on the payroll tax bill or the current year spending bill.
The House bill continues the current payroll tax holiday, and also cuts the maximum length of unemployment benefits from 99 weeks to 59 weeks, repeals certain provisions of last year's health care law, changes the way Medicare pays doctors, removes certain environmental regulations, and allows construction of Keystone XL oil pipeline.
The vote in the House was 234 to 193, with 10 Democrats voting with the GOP majority, and 14 Republicans "switching sides."
Both Senate Democrats and Republicans have offered versions of a payroll tax cut bill, but none have reached the 60-vote threshold necessary to move legislation along in the Senate.