U.S. Rep. Renee Ellmers, R-N.C., joined House Republican negotiators and Speaker John Boehner this morning to call on Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid to appoint Senate Democrat negotiators to discuss the payroll tax extension.
“We have to do this,” Ellmers said. “As a mom, I care about those single moms out there who are going to be dependent on this especially tax extension. We can’t take money out of their pockets right now. Especially, during the holidays.
Ellmers was appointed to the eight member House negotiating team Tuesday after Representatives voted 229-193 against a bipartisan Senate plan to extend the current tax rate for two months.
It’s unclear whether negotiations between House and Senate members will occur. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev, is not expected to call Senators back. He said Tuesday that he’s willing to negotiate a year long extension, but only after the House passes the two-month bipartisan extension similar to the one worked out by the Senate.
House Majority Whip Kevin McCarthy said Tuesday that it’s important to have freshman members like Ellmers on the negotiating committee. He said Ellmers’ experience in the private sector and as a nurse as critical for understanding the complicated payroll tax debate.
“She may be a freshman, but she’s got more knowledge on some of those issues than members who have been there for a while.”
