国际英语新闻:Obama pleased with Senate's approval of payroll tax cut extension but expects more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 17 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Barack Obama Saturday said he was pleased that the Senate approved the extension of payroll tax cut, but expected Congress to further extend the tax cut for the whole year.

Obama also said in a brief statement at the White House that he expected Congress to extend payroll tax cut next year, and it would be "inexcusable" for Congress not to extend a payroll tax cut for the rest of 2012 when lawmakers return from their holiday break.

He added "it should be a formality, and hopefully it's done with as little drama as possible when they get back in January."

The Senate voted earlier and approved a two-month extension of payroll tax cut and agreed to continue jobless benefits for the long-term unemployed, which set the stage for another fight in February.

U.S. President Barack Obama delivers a statement on payroll tax cut at the White House in Washington D.C., capital of the United States, Dec. 17, 2011. The U.S. Senate voted Saturday and approved a two-month extension of payroll tax cut and agreed to continue jobless benefits for the long-term unemployed.

To extend payroll tax cut for the middle class is a major piece of President Obama's job act announced in early September. Democrats want to put money into the middle class families and collect more revenue from the rich. However, Republicans opposed to increase tax on the rich and bundled the oil pipeline project with the payroll tax cut plan.

The renewal payroll tax cut granted 2 percentage point tax credit to 160 million taxpayers and unemployment benefits averaging about 300 dollars a week for the additional millions of people who have been out of work for six months or more.

The House will vote on the bill next week.

"I'm looking forward to the House moving forward and getting this done when they get back on Monday," Obama said.