A deadlock disagreement on the payroll tax cut extension in Washington D.C. will likely hurt those here at home.
Congress can't compromise on how or if to extend the payroll tax cut, and now with the Senate out on Christmas vacation, it isn't looking like they will come to a decision before it expires at the end of the year.
The tax cut, which took effect this year, benefits 160 million Americans - $1,000 a year, or nearly $20 a week, for someone making $50,000, as much as $4,272 or $82 a week for a household with two high-paid workers.
Needless to say, taxpayers along the Grand Strand and Pee Dee are upset.
"They don't care about us. They're only worried about what goes in their hip pocket and they're shoving the common people off to the side," Mike Carter said Wednesday afternoon.
"I wish that they would work as hard as we have to for our dollar," Shirley Hart said.
The two percent tax cut in payroll taxes is due to expire on December 31st.
The House had approved a one year extension, but when the vote went to the senate they only approved a two month extension.
South Carolina Sen. Jim DeMint (R-S.C.) voted against the two month plan. Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) voted to pass the two month plan.
The house turned down the two month plan this morning, passing instead, a vote to go into committee with senate members to come up with a solution.
In South Carolina, Rep. James Clyburn (D-S.C.) voted for the two month extension. Congressmen Mick Mulvaney (R-S.C.) and Tim Scott (R-S.C.) voted down the extension.
NewsChannel 15 contacted Clyburn, Mulvaney, and Scott's offices Wednesday for comment.
"The only way for the members of {Congress} to prevent a tax increase on 160 million working Americans is to pass the bipartisan agreement. Let me be crystal clear, the only way to prevent cutting off unemployment insurance from 2.2 million Americans who are currently unemployed, and looking for work is to pass the bipartisan agreement," Clyburn said.
A member from Mulvaney's office told us he was trying to get a comment, but due to a family emergency, it may take a day or two.
Tim Scott issued NewsChannel 15 a statement, that in part, said:
"It is critical that we extend the payroll tax reduction in a responsible way. The House voted to extend the reduction for a full year, as well as to reform the unemployment benefits system to ensure the appropriate benefits are available to those in need and to protect Medicare. As the payroll tax funds the Social Security system, our bill also paid for the reduction in a way that protects the Social Security system and our seniors.
Unfortunately, the U.S. Senate passed legislation which would only extend the payroll tax reduction for two months. American families and American businesses need long-term certainty - asking them to try and plan ahead financially in two month increments is simply not the best we can do."
Now, the senate is off on vacation for the holiday until the new year. Senate Leader, Harry Reid could call senators back to the nation's capital, but many Americans say they are just bracing for the increase.
"How about if Congress can't do their job then for the following year, all of {them} only get get paid half of what they make and they have to pay for their own medical for the year as well," Jessie Summers said on our NewsChannel 15 facebook page.
Vivian Meiggs Grimsley wrote, "Why are the Republicans playing games? Why not just meet back in two months and extend the tax break for the year?"
"We can't allow for taxes to be raised on hardworking Americans - period," Scott said.
The AP contributed to this report.
