President Obama speaks on the payroll tax cut in Washington

President Barack Obama leaves after making a surprise appearance at the daily press briefing to urge the House of Representatives to pass the extension of the payroll tax cut before it expires, at the White House in Washington on December 20, 2011. The Senate had passed a two-month extension of the cut, but House republicans have refused to pass it and sent the bill back to conference. UPI/Kristoffer Tripplaar/Pool