Southampton - Congressman Tim Bishop issued the following statement in response to reports that House Republican leadership has changed course and will agree to a bipartisan two-month extension of the payroll tax holiday and other provisions passed 89-10 in the Senate last Saturday. This week, Republican leadership claimed they opposed the two-month deal, which was negotiated in the Senate to provide space for negotiations on a yearlong extension.

"This is great news for the 160 million Americans who will not see a tax increase of $1,000 on January 1 as a result of this bipartisan compromise, as well as the 176,700 jobless New Yorkers who will see their Unemployment Insurance lifeline extended and millions of seniors on Medicare who do not have to worry about whether they will be able to see the doctor of their choice next year."

"Therefore, I welcome the Republican leadership's belated decision to allow passage of payroll tax cut legislation supported by an overwhelming bipartisan majority of Congress. However, the uncertainty for American families and small businesses caused by the delay was unacceptable and motivated by political concerns, not substantive policy differences. I hope that in the New Year, the House GOP will become more focused on finding bipartisan policy solutions to our nation's problems, and less focused on manufacturing political theater."