The constant posturing and partisanship in Washington, D.C. continues to prevent our government from making any real progress on key issues that will very soon have a profound impact on millions of Americans.

The U.S. House and Senate remain at odds over continuing the payroll tax cuts and extending unemployment benefits. Lack of action on these two issues will hurt millions of Americans starting Jan. 1.

According to the Associated Press, “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. What’s more, about 6 million people could lose unemployment benefits, and Medicare payments to doctors would be slashed.”

Neither side wants to help the opposition accomplish anything, as both Democrats and Republicans seem to be far more concerned with the 2012 elections than they are the economic well-being of our citizens.

This ridiculousness must stop now.

Politicians on both sides of the aisle should return to Washington and not leave until some compromise is found.

It will not be easy to find a solution that makes everyone happy.

But these men and women weren’t elected to take an easy road.

The were elected to lead. It’s time they start doing so.