House GOP Out To Reshape Senate’s Payroll Tax Cut

House Republican leaders are shunning a bipartisan payroll tax cut bill approved by the Senate and want to write their own version. Rank-and-file GOP lawmakers say they want no part of the Senate measure.

The House is returning to work today, two days after the Senate overwhelmingly passed a bill negotiated by the chamber's top Republican and Democrat and left town.

The Senate bill would cut the payroll tax, extend jobless benefits and avoid cuts in Medicare payments to doctors through February -- well short of the year-long version the White House and congressional leaders wanted.

It was initially unclear what changes House GOP leaders might make to satisfy conservative lawmakers. Changes might include more spending cuts than the Senate bill and other revisions.

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)