CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) — Congress has approved renewing a payroll tax cut and jobless benefits without the support of Wyoming's representative in the House.

U.S. Rep. Cynthia Lummis voted against the $143 billion measure on Friday because the payroll tax holiday will cost the country $100 billion.

The House approved the measure in a 293-132 vote. Minutes later the Senate also approved the measure in a bipartisan vote, sending it to the president for his signature.

Since the tax cut wasn't offset by spending cuts, Lummis said the only way to pay for the extension is borrowing money from China, Japan and Saudi Arabia.

Under the bill, workers would continue to receive a two percentage point increase in their paychecks. People out of work for more than six months would keep jobless benefits averaging about $300 a week.

 

 

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