The Senate was set this morning to dispense with the poison-pilled payroll tax cut extension package bill from the House, but Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) had a hissy fit, and a major reversal.
Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.) on Wednesday objected to a Democratic request to vote on a House-passed extension of the payroll tax holiday, citing concerns about a possible government shutdown.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) said McConnell blocked a vote on the bill because Republican senators did not want to take a stance on controversial provisions in the bill, such as requiring the recipients of unemployment benefits to take drug tests.
McConnell most likely didn't want to vote on the bill because he knew it would fail. He could be trying to jam up Reid in response to the hard-line stance Reid has taken on refusing to separate this bill from the must-pass appropriation bills Congress has to slog through quickly if they hope to recess by the end of the week.
Speaking of deadlines, funding for the government runs out on Friday, December 16. Reid also tried to bring up a short-term continuing resolution to provide a funding bridge, but McConnell blocked that, as well.