Economic boost

What started with a bang ended with a whimper late last week, as Congress gave lopsided approval -- 60-36 in the Senate, 293-132 in the House -- to an extension of President Obama's payroll tax cut. You can call it progress; just don't call it bipartisanship.

The $143 billion package will continue to give 160 million workers the equivalent of a 2 percent pay raise this year by cutting the Social Security tax. It will give jobless benefits averaging $300 a week to millions who have been out of work for more than six months, and will temporarily block cuts in reimbursements to doctors under federal health programs.

It's unfortunate that Congress could not agree on how to pay for the tax cut. The other parts of the bill, however, will be covered by spending cuts to other health-care programs and government pension plans, and by an auction of public airwaves that will create more wireless Internet systems.

Last December, Congress deadlocked ferociously over the legislation. Democrats wanted to use it for economic stimulus, and Republicans tried to block a political victory for the President.

After lawmakers grudgingly agreed to extend the tax cut until the end of this month, cooler heads prevailed in recent weeks. The deal will shore up the fragile economy and allow Republicans to escape the label of obstructionists in an election year.

This is the outcome that Americans deserved -- at least two months ago.