Senate Democrats Warm to Obama's Tax Deal

Democrats are coming around on the tax cut deal President Obama struck with Republicans—at least in the Senate. Yesterday, the White House was showing off independent forecasts predicting that the concessions Obama won in the deal could create up to 2.2 million jobs, the Washington Post reports. “Members are more open today as they read the analyses of this package,” said Dick Durbin, though he added that there were parts of the deal that “I just loathe.”

Senators also took heart in endorsements from liberal groups, like John Podesta’s Center for American Progress. But none of that appears to have won over House Democrats, who had a fractious meeting with Joe Biden yesterday. Dozens lined up to air their grievances, but “the vice president said, ‘This is the deal. Take it or leave it,’” complained Henry Waxman. Chris Van Hollen warned that it's a “very serious question whether this package can pass in the form it's in now." (More Bush tax cuts stories.)