Senate GOP Cries Uncle On Payroll Tax Cut Bill

Confronted with strong opposition from GOP rank and file, two Senate Democratic sources say Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell has agreed to immunize the payroll tax cut agreement from a filibuster. That means it can avoid the 60-vote threshold that’s become standard for significant legislation in recent years.

The development suggests opposition runs deep enough, particularly in the GOP, that the package would fail if held to the supermajority requirement.