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WASHINGTON — Most Americans want Congress to vote to continue the payroll tax reduction, according to a new Associated Press-GfK poll that comes as Democrats and Republicans wrestle over whether to extend the cut through 2012.

It’s the latest instance in which lawmakers on Capitol Hill have allowed partisan sniping to hold up action that polls show most Americans support, like ending the Bush tax cuts or adding a surcharge on millionaires.

The dragged-out debate over whether to extend an expiring payroll tax reduction is one of many developments that have kept voters furious with their leaders all year. On the brink of the 2012 presidential and congressional elections, virtually all Americans are disappointed and frustrated with the political scene and nearly 6 in 10 say they are angry, the AP-GfK survey showed.

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4.21pm: Is Christine Lagarde being too pessimistic by warning that the world risks a return to the 1930s? Not according to some financial experts.

Michael Platt, founder of hedge fund BlueCrest Capital, told Bloomberg today that 2012 will be a pretty dire year for Europe. Platt claimed that Germany’s approach to the crisis is destroying growth:

We’re not going to have any euro bonds, we’re not going to have a full political and fiscal union where [wealth] transfers will take place.

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News and Insights from Business Women (December 14, 2011)

2011 Most Powerful Moms in Washington D.C.

They’re women. They’re mothers. They’re in Washington, D.C. And they’re powerful. Find out who they are according to Working Mother and see them in pictures.

You’re the Boss, Give Yourself a Performance Review

Suzanne Lucas, The Evil HR Lady from AllBusiness.com, tells us that even though you’re the boss, you should still get a performance review — even if you have to do it yourself! Suzanne provides great insights and reasons why you should review your own performance if you’re the boss in her article (click the link above).

The One Resolution You Need to Make in 2012

Dayna Steele from Fast Company share the most important resolution that we need to make in 2012. It’s a simple resolution but one that is easy to forget to keep up with throughout the year. Here it is — Do what you say you are going to do, otherwise known as accountability. Follow the link abo

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“Defending the UK’s interests”: the Prime Minister vetoed a tax which “would have had a disproportionate impact on the City”

The City today gave a rousing cheer for Prime Minister David Cameron’s refusal to sign up to a financial transaction tax – known as the Tobin tax – across the European Union.

Cameron’s veto means it is now highly unlikely the eurozone will go ahead with introducing a Tobin tax across the 17 countries inside the currency.

The tax was set to be levied at 0.1% on shares and bond trades and 0.01% on derivatives but has been widely condemned in the UK because it would drive business out of Europe to America and the Far East.

Angela Knight, chief executive of the British Bankers’ Association, said: “An EU-wide Tobin tax would have had a disproportionate impact on the UK as it is Europe’s biggest financial centre, and the hub for the world’s financial transactions.

Our City does business globally but pays its taxes here, so retaining our strong, vibrant, international finance hub here is good for jobs and our economy.”

Xavier Rolet, chief executive of the London Stock Exchange said: “The Prime Minister is absolutely right to be defending the UK’s interests in Europe.

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Territorial Bancorp Inc., the parent of Territorial Savings Bank    Territorial Savings Bank Latest from The Business Journals Territorial Bancorp reports M profit in Q3Territorial Savings Bank parent completes stock repurchase Follow this company , said Friday that its board of directors has adopted a third stock repurchase program.

Under the program, Territorial Bancorp. (Nasdaq:TBNK) may repurchase up to 552,000 shares of its common stock, or about 5 percent of outstanding shares.

“The Board of Directors believes this repurchase plan should enhance the long term interest of the Company’s shareholders,” CEO Allen S. Kitagaw

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BENTONVILLE, Ark.—Wal-Mart has opened an internal investigation to determine whether its overseas operations have complied with U.S. federal law as it pertains to permitting, licensing and inspections.

The Bentonville, Ark., retailer offered few details about the investigation in a quarterly report filed Thursday with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

The company said that it opened the investigation after reviewing policies, procedures and internal controls tied to its global anti-corruption program. It said that it is taking “appropriate remedial measures.”

“We are taking a deep look at our policies and procedures in every country in which we operate,” said Wal-Mart spokesman Dave Tovar in an email. “As a result of information obtained during that review and from other sources, we have begun an internal investigation related to compliance with the” Foreign Corrupt Practice Act.

All companies doing business overseas must comply with the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, which broadly deals with bribery and accounting rules. <

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