Update: Dold Calls for Passage of 60-Day Extension, Deal Reached

Update (4:30 p.m.): House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) reached an agreement today to extend the payroll tax holiday and long term unemployment benefits for 60 days. There will be a voice vote of House members Friday. 

(Earlier 3:30 p.m.):  urged House Republican leadership today to pass the 60-day extension of payroll tax holiday and long term unemployment benefits approved Saturday by the Senate. 

Rather than vote on the bill Tuesday, Dold voted with most House Republican colleagues to send the bill to a conference committee with the Senate to resolve the differences between the two chambers. 

At that time, if he did not think the conference committee would work. In the wake of a number of Senate Republicans urging the House to follow suit, Dold now wants the 60-day extension. 

“For months I have been advocating for the extension of the payroll-tax holiday and have been working in a bipartisan way in Congress to find common ground so we can get things done for the American people,” Dold said. “It is clear that the Senate will not negotiate with the House so I am calling on House Leadership to immediately pass the Senate’s temporary two-month extension.”

Dold is not giving up on the conference committee idea. He wants members appointed quickly to avoid a similar problem at the end of February.

 “I am calling on Senators Harry Reid and Mitch McConnell to immediately appoint Senate conferees so that both bodies of Congress can come together and work out a long-term solution,” Dold said.

Dold is one of approximately 40 Republicans who comprise the Tuesday group of moderate Republicans. The group was once chaired by now Sen. Mark Kirk (R-Highland Park).