It’s remarkable how political infighting in Congress can be resolved by a healthy dose of bad news from opinion polls. On Wednesday, the outlook for the Obama-supported payroll tax cut and jobless benefits bill that has been contested for months was suddenly better, and the timing was no accident. –KA

AP via Google News:

Congressional leaders of both parties praised an emerging deal Wednesday to extend a payroll tax cut and extra jobless benefits through 2012, but cautioned that bargainers still had to nail down final details.

[…] Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus, D-Mont., one of the bargainers on the legislation, said there were “just a couple of little wrinkles” left that he believed would be resolved on Wednesday.

“I think a lot of people realize Congress is not enjoying a great reputation,” he told reporters. “Both sides recognized the need to get this done.”

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