Published December 22, 2011, 04:48 PM

Boehner: House leaders accept Senate tax terms

WASHINGTON - House Speaker John Boehner says he has reached agreement with the Senate to renew the payroll tax cut before it expires Dec. 31.

WASHINGTON (AP) - House Speaker John Boehner says he has reached agreement with the Senate to renew the payroll tax cut before it expires Dec. 31.

The Ohio Republican said in a statement Thursday that he expects to pass a new bill by Christmas that would renew the tax break for two months while congressional negotiators work out a longer-term measure that would also extend jobless benefits for millions of Americans and prevent doctors from absorbing a big cut in Medicare payments.

The GOP retreat ends a tense standoff in which Boehner's House Republicans came under intense pressure to agree to the short-term extension.

Tags:

More from around the web