Nebraska senators support Obama tax deal

Sen. Mike Johanns says he will likely support the bipartisan tax cut extension negotiated by President Barack Obama. Democratic Sen. Ben Nelson, too, plans to back the deal despite his party’s opposition to extending tax breaks to the rich, a controversial condition of the compromise. Johanns, also playing his Republican party line, told KHAS that while he didn’t support extending unemployment benefits, the deal is still a good one for Nebraskans. “Accountants, farmers, ranchers, and businesses need to know what their tax situation is going to be effective January 1. If we don’t fix this it will be a mess,” he says. A vote on the measure is expected next week.