Boehner calls for further payroll tax break negotiations
House Republican Speaker John Boehner has resisted calls from President Barack Obama and conservatives to back down in the payroll tax break dispute.
On Wednesday he called the press to a Capitol Hill conference room where he was joined by his deputy, Eric Cantor, and eight other Republican lawmakers.
Mr Boehner said the eight empty chairs across the table were reserved for Democratic lawmakers to join them for negotiations.
21 Dec 2011