Boehner: Retroactive Tax Deal Not Good for Country

WASHINGTON — House Speaker John Boehner on Wednesday said a retroactive renewal of the payroll tax break and jobless benefits, which is mired in a partisan fight in Congress, would not be a good option for the country.

"I don't think that is in the country's best interest," Boehner said, speaking with reporters at a meeting of eight House Republican negotiators. "The time to do our work is now. Time is running short, but we have ample time to get this done."

He spoke with 10 days left to forge a deal with the Senate, which passed a bipartisan plan Saturday that would extend the tax cut and jobless benefits for two months.

The Republican-led House voted on Tuesday to reject the Senate deal, insisting that any such deal must be for at least a year.