February 17, 2012

Washington, D.C.—Nevada Senator Harry Reid issued the following statement after the Senate approved the payroll tax cut conference report by a vote of 60-36. The compromise also extends unemployment insurance and protects Medicare patients’ ability to see their doctors.

“More than 160 million American workers will keep more of their hard-earned money in their pockets this year thanks to this bipartisan compromise. More than four million unemployed Americans will continue receiving checks that help them pay the rent and buy groceries while they look for a job, and millions of seniors on Medicare will continue to have access to their doctors. I fought to prevent Republicans from making extreme cuts to unemployment insurance in hard-hit states like Nevada that need assistance as our economy continues to recover.

“In the end, both sides compromised for the good of our country, which is exactly how the American people expect their elected leaders to work.

“I commend the members of the conference committee for their diligence and dedication throughout this process. This bipartisan victory will help our fragile economy as it continues to gain steam. More needs to be done, but this is an important step forward. I hope the spirit of compromise shown by Republicans today will continue as we work together to keep our economy growing.”

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