President Obama praised Congress this evening for agreeing to extend the payroll tax cut and unemployment insurance and suggested that tonight’s consensus could set the tone for further legislative agreements throughout 2012.
“Leaders of both parties have done the right thing for our families and for our economy by reaching an agreement that will prevent a tax hike on 160 million working Americans,” Obama said in a statement. “I urge Congress to pass this agreement so that the payroll tax cut we put in place last year will not expire at the end oft his month.”
Obama noted that Congress also extended “the vital lifeline of unemployment insurance,” as well. “But this must be only the start of what we do together this year,” the president concluded. “There’s much more the American people need and expect from us — to help our businesses keep creating jobs, to help restore security for middle class families, and to leave an economy that’s built to last.”
