House Caves on Payroll Tax

It's official: House Speaker John Boehner announced Thursday that Republicans will accept the Senate deal to extend the payroll-tax cut for two months. The House will vote on the plan Friday in a "pro forma" session that will require affirmation by unanimous consent only, so House members do not have to return to Washington to vote. The new agreement also adds a measure to ease the burden on small businesses implementing the tax, Boehner said. The reversal comes after Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid agreed to appoint conferees to a committee on the payroll tax. Both Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and President Obama urged House Republicans to pass the extension today.