Dems: Lew more like Rahm minus the cussing

WASHINGTON, Jan. 12 (UPI) -- Incoming White House chief of staff Jack Lew will play a key role in negotiations with Republicans on taxes and spending this year, congressional Democrats say.

And, congressional sources told The Hill, Lew likely will be less like his predecessor, William Daley, and more like Daley's predecessor, Rahm Emanuel -- minus the potty mouth.

While Lew, now director of the Office of Management and Budget, may seem less willing to mix it up politically as Emanuel, the two similarly enjoy close working relationships with lawmakers, The Hill reported Thursday.

Democratic lawmakers have criticized Daley for not being engaged on the Hill, saying that hurt their leverage when negotiating with Republicans -- something they say Lew won't let happen.

Lew ran the Obama administration's point during the three biggest standoffs in 2011: the government shutdown scare in April; the debt-limit impasse in July; and the payroll tax battle last month.

Democratic leaders said they expect Lew to be involved in the talks on extending the payroll tax holiday for a full year and the larger fight over extending the Bush tax rates that expire in December.

"Lew will stay involved, but more at the 30,000-foot level," a senior Democratic aide said, speculating that his successor at the Office of Management and Budget and Rob Nabors, the administration's director of legislative affairs, would conduct most day-to-day talks with Republican negotiators. "With [Lew's] new role, he'll have a lot of other stuff on his plate."