Moderate Democrats are up in arms. They want a full extension of the cuts for just two years, which is an idea that Pelosi hasn't entertained. The moderates' idea of a temporary extension is somewhat curious. Those same moderate Democrats who are still in office next term will have to deal with this issue again — just when they're up for re-election, and just as their President is up for re-election as well.
Roll Call (subscription required):
...some centrist Democrats, who prefer a short-term extension of tax cuts for all income brackets, worry that having a vote this week on just the middle-class tax cuts leaves them vulnerable to GOP attacks claiming that they effectively supported a tax increase for higher wage earners.At the meeting today, Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner and Budget Director Jacob Lew will have the chance to persuade Senate Finance Chairman Max Baucus (D-Mont.), Senate Minority Whip Jon Kyl (R-Ariz.), presumptive House Budget ranking member Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and presumptive Ways and Means Chairman Dave Camp (R-Mich.)
Compounding their frustration is the fact that there almost certainly will not be 60 votes in the Senate to pass just the middle-class tax-cut extension. Some centrist lawmakers are questioning why Speaker Nancy Pelosi and her leadership team would press ahead with a strategy that many say contributed to the 63-seat loss that House Democrats suffered Nov. 2.