Has Obama Set Republicans Up

Today, House Republicans announced that they will decouple entitlement spend from the payroll tax and pass a clean payroll tax cut extension until the end of the year. They are leaving out the entitlement spending extensions and daring Senate Democrats to oppose their clean tax cut – one that they have "championed" for the past few months.

There are pros and cons whether Boehner is doing the right thing on payroll taxes. Has Obama and the Democrats set up the Republicans again as they have in the past?

Republicans must stand strong against pressure to slip the entitlement spending into the payroll tax cut deal. Once they are free from the burden of shooting the hostage (the tax cut), they should negotiate hard for the rest of the package.

Senate Republicans have to stand strong. If they block Harry Reid’s counter proposal, House Republicans will have superior leverage as the only body that can pass a clean extension. We had that leverage last time, but it was obviated when Senate Republicans agreed to pass a two-month extension of everything, thereby pulling the rug from under House Republicans. It’s rare that the Republicans get second chances in these situations, but with the failure of the conference committee, they will get a second chance. Let’s not squander it.

If and that is a big IF the Republicans stand strong they have the upper hand and this is a good move.

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