House could vote on payroll tax cuts today, but with strings attached

Washington (CNN) -- Lawmakers could vote as soon as Tuesday on a controversial plan by House Republicans to link the payroll tax cut to government approval of a proposed oil pipeline. The pipeline, which is currently in limbo as the State Department considers objections from environmentalists, would bring oil from Canada's oil sands in northern Alberta to Texas. President Barack Obama said last week that he will reject any effort to link the oil pipeline to extending the payroll tax cut, which will maintain $1,000 in tax savings for American workers. More on the pipeline showdown The State Department recently said its decision on the Keystone XL pipeline would be delayed until 2013 to examine environmental issues raised by critics, a move Republicans labeled as political to put off the issue until after next year's presidential election. White House spokesman Jay Carney said Monday that Republicans demanding specific ideological provisions as part of a deal to extend the payroll tax cut appear to be going against their party's anti-tax orthodoxy. Asked by reporters about a Republican plan to maintain the reduced payroll tax rate for another year, Carney questioned why the party that traditionally supports tax cuts is driving such a hard bargain on one that helps American workers and their families.

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