Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell did not expressly rule out tax increases in order to get an extension of the payroll tax holiday through Congress, despite his stance against such increases in the past.
When pressed by CNN State of the Union host Candy Crowley on whether he would be willing to raise taxes to pay for the payroll tax holiday, McConnell would only say that he would not "negotiate this agreement with you this morning." He did, however, pledge that Congress would have the deal finished by the end of February. A conference committee is currently chewing on the issue.
"[Democrats] don't want to cut any spending. That's what's made it problematic," he said on Sunday.
McConnell also defended Utah Republican Sen. Mike Lee's declaration that he would block President Obama’s future nominations to positions in federal agencies unless the president rescinds recess appointments made in recent weeks, which Lee derided as unconstitutional because the Senate was in a “pro forma” session at the time.
"Senators put holds on nominations all the time," he said. "That is very common."
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