How to fix congress? ctd

Ezra Klein points out that the current fight going on in congress over the payroll tax cut is not actually about the payroll tax  cut:

Rather, Democrats and Republicans are arguing over the price Democrats are willing to pay and Republicans are willing to accept in order to extend the payroll tax cut for a full year. Republicans want, among other things, the Keystone XL Pipeline and further cuts to discretionary spending. Neither of those things, you’ll notice, is “a payroll tax cut.” Democrats oppose resolving big environmental questions through a rider to a must-pass tax bill, and they’re against some of the cuts Republicans are proposing. Neither of those concerns, you’ll notice, are concerns about a payroll tax cut.

This is exactly correct and, as I pointed out here and here, has to stop. If it did, maybe this congress would not be enjoying the lowest approval rating in the history of congressional approval ratings.

Advertisement