MANCHESTER, NH – US president Barack Obama has challenged Congress to vote next week to preserve an expiring payroll tax cut, a day after politicians failed to agree on a way to control the ballooning federal deficit.
Mr Obama shifted into campaign mode after members of a bipartisan congressional deficit-cutting “super committee” were unable to agree on taxes and spending.
Mr Obama made his call in the key voting state of New Hampshire, where Republican challengers will hold one of the first primary votes of the 2012 election in January.
“In the spirit of Thanksgiving, we are going to give them another chance,” he said, referring to politicians and this week’s US Thanksgiving holiday.
“Next week they are going to get to take a simple vote. If they vote no again the typical family’s taxes will go up $1,000 [€740] next year,” he said. – (Reuters)