WASHINGTON (AP) — The White House says Senate deal to extend a Social Security tax cut and unemployment benefits for two months meets President Barack Obama’s goal of avoiding a tax increase in the new year.
White House Communications Director Dan Pfeiffer calls the deal a significant victory.
Obama had wanted a full-year extension of the tax cut. He had also sought a Social Security tax cut for businesses that Congress did not grant. The deal also means Obama will have to decide within 60 days whether to grant a permit for Canada-to-Texas oil pipeline, a decision he had wanted to put off until after next year’s elections.
Pfeiffer says that failing to extend the tax cut would have hurt the economic recovery and job growth.
