On the recordDecember 1, 2011
this Middle Class Tax Cut Act is very simple. It does two things for employers and also helps employees. Last year, the Senate came together in a bipartisan bill. We passed a tax bill that, among other things, reduced payroll taxes for employees. This legislation expands that. Instead of just saying we are going to have a reduction of 2 percent of the payroll tax, this legislation cuts it in half. So you are cutting the payroll tax in half. That is take-home pay, $1,500 in the pockets of the average working family in America. Secondly, it allows us to provide a cut as well for businesses, cutting in half the payroll tax for businesses. It is good public policy. It will create lots of jobs at a time when the American people are telling us, with one voice, they want us to do one thing here: create jobs or create the conditions for job creation so small businesses can hire. At the same time, they want us to come together in a bipartisan way. I urge a ``yes'' vote. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator's time has expired. Who yields time in opposition? The Senator from South Dakota.
