Republicans Hijack Tax-Cut Bill, Deliver Bonus to Big Oil

WASHINGTON (December 16, 2011) – The following is a statement by Susan Casey-Lefkowitz, director of the international program at the Natural Resources Defense Council, in response to the agreement reached to extend the payroll tax cut:

"Special interest riders do not belong in legislation designed to help the American people. Republicans took the payroll tax-cut extension bill hostage and delivered a year-end bonus to Big Oil. The president went along in order to save hard-working Americans from a tax increase on January 1, 2012. We get that.

“But with the Republicans forcing the president’s hand, he will have no choice but to reject the Keystone XL tar sands pipeline as not in the national interest.”