UPDATE: Darrell Issa Follows Party Line On Jobless Benefits, Payroll Tax

12/20 UPDATE: Lake Elsinore/Wildomar lawmaker Darrell Issa (R-Vista) aligned with his party today in rejecting a plan that would have extended a 2-percent payroll tax cut for two months and bought time for jobless benefits.

Today's House vote, 229-193, brings the measure back to the Senate, where the bipartisan two-month plan passed Saturday with a 89-10 vote.

If Congress doesn't pass a bill by Dec. 31, payroll taxes will go up for 160 million workers on New Year's Day and almost 2 million people could lose unemployment benefits as well.

12/19 ORIGINAL POST: A Lake Elsinore/Wildomar lawmaker is siding with fellow Republicans on the fierce debate over extending jobless benefits and keeping payroll taxes down through 2012.

Darrell Issa (R-Vista), along with 233 other House members, voted for H.R. 3630, the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2011. The legislation passed the House by a simple majority on Dec. 13, with 193 members casting votes against.

The legislation calls for extending Social Security payroll tax cuts through 2012, and it calls for extending unemployment benefits through 2012 for those having trouble finding work. Additionally, the bill calls for averting a 27 percent cut in payment rates for doctors who treat Medicare patients through 2012.

On Dec. 17, the Senate took up the bill and passed it 89-10 -- but with amendments.

According to Issa’s office today, he is sticking with his support of the original bill, not the amended version.

The Senate version calls for providing a two-month extension of the Social Security payroll tax cuts and a two-month extension on unemployment benefits. The Senate version also calls for preventing the 27 percent cut in payment rates for doctors who treat Medicare patients, but only for two months.

The Senate vote was largely bipartisan. Critics claim the original legislation is too costly, and sticks the middle class with the bill. Additionally, while Democrats and Republicans agree on long-term jobless benefits through 2012, under the original bill the benefits would only get extended to a maximum of 79 weeks, less in some cases, which is below this year's 99-week limit. In its assessment, the Senate objected to the benefits shortfall.

When the amended version went back to the House today, it was clear it wouldn’t fly.

Today House Speaker John Boehner said, “Democrats and Republicans agree that the payroll tax cut needs to be extended for a full year to provide the kind of relief that Americans need in this struggling economy.  The House last week passed a bill to do just that -- but instead of passing the House bill or another bill which extended the payroll credit for a year, the Senate Democratic leaders passed a two-month extension, punting the problem into next year.”

If Congress doesn’t act on the bill, the Social Security payroll tax would jump back up to its normal 6.2 percent effective Jan. 1. Currently, U.S. workers are getting hit with a reduced 4.2 percent Social Security payroll tax rate.

The legislation, if passed, would also prevent an automatic 27 percent cut in Medicare reimbursements for doctors in January. The reduction could force some doctors to stop treating Medicare patients, according to some critics.

Congressman Issa's office didn’t offer comment on the amended version of the bill, but it is expected he will follow party lines by rejecting the legislation on Tuesday.

GOP lawmakers are calling for formal negotiations with the Senate. Speaker Boehner said the process would include a “sit-down” conference that could last over the holidays.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has said he won't open talks until the House approves the two-month measure to ensure Americans get the tax breaks and benefits while lawmakers continue hammering out the details.