The agreement was the product of unusual cooperation and relatively civil dialogue between the parties and the two chambers. House Speaker John Boehner (R., Ohio) called the deal “a fair agreement and one that I support,” while Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D., Nev.) praised the GOP. “Everything should not have to be a fight,” Mr. Reid said. “I hope this shift to the middle becomes the norm rather than the exception.”
The House and Senate could vote on the deal as early as Friday. The three Senate Republicans on a House-Senate negotiating committee appeared unlikely to sign, but the backing of the rest of the committee is enough to advance the bill.
Republicans came to embrace compromise only after they received a political pummeling. Some initially opposed the tax cut, saying it could harm Social Security, which is funded by the payroll tax. Others said it should at least be offset by spending cuts so its cost doesn’t add to the budget deficit.
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