It should be obvious to everyone who's even remotely fiscally responsible that the Republican stance on them is moronic, but yes, it should have been voted on already so people would know what taxes to expect. But then, if the Republicans had been a bit more open to the still-irresponsible-but-less-so compromise Obama was trying to sell them, it would have been, so I'm not sure they have much of a case there. I guess the Republicans are out to prove as rapidly as possible that as bad as the Democrats were in control of Congress, they really aren't a hair better.