[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 13]
[Senate]
[Page 18260]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                       PAYROLL TAX CUT EXTENSION

  Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, I will only take a moment to say that we 
have an opportunity now, before we leave for Christmas, to not forget 
people across America who are struggling in this economy.
  A payroll tax cut, instituted by President Obama and supported by 
Congress, basically gives more working families a little bit extra 
money each month. For the average working family in Illinois, it is 
about $1,500 a year. For some of us in the Senate, that may not seem 
like an enormous sum of money, but for families struggling paycheck to 
paycheck it makes a big difference.
  We need to make certain we restore this payroll tax cut which is 
going to expire at the end of this year. How terrible it would be for 
us to impose an additional burden on working families, to impose a new 
payroll tax on working families when they are struggling in this 
economy that needs their spending power. Every economist taking a look 
at this has said the two best things Congress can do to help this 
economy move forward and not fall back is to make sure this payroll tax 
cut is protected and that this new payroll tax is not imposed on 
families; and, secondly, to extend unemployment benefits for the 
millions across America who are still struggling to find a job.
  We need to call on our colleagues--Democrats and Republicans. For 
goodness sake, how can we in good conscience go home to celebrate the 
holiday season with our families and say to the millions of working 
families across America: Incidentally, on January 1, your taxes are 
going up. That is wrong. It is not fair. Whatever our rationale 
politically, it makes no sense in the family rooms and neighborhoods of 
America that we would impose a new payroll tax on working families who 
are working so hard to keep their heads above water. Before we leave, 
let us follow the lead of Senator Bob Casey of Pennsylvania who is 
sponsoring this legislation. Let us extend this payroll tax cut to help 
working families and help our economy. We should not go home for 
Christmas without that extension and without some help when it comes to 
extending unemployment benefits.
  Mr. President, I yield the floor.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The Senator from Arkansas.

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