Hoyer: Vote on Tax Cuts Won’t Derail Talks

The conflict – and negotiations -- between Democrats and Republicans over extending the Bush-era tax cuts continues to take new twists and turns. Democratic Majority Leader Steny Hoyer says the House vote scheduled for Thursday on a bill that excludes families with annual income of more than $250,000 from a tax cut extension won’t upset bipartisan negotiations for a compromise on the issue, The Hill reports.

He confirmed to reporters that he will schedule a vote for Thursday on permanently continuing the tax cuts for families whose income is less than $250,000. Given that Republicans and even some Democrats want the tax cuts continued for everyone, the vote will likely fail and perhaps give impetus to the negotiations.

“I don’t think it will undermine [the negotiations], nor is it intended to embarrass or to put Republicans in a difficult place,” Hoyer says.