updated 9:57 PM EDT, Wed August 1, 2012  The House passed a Republican-backed tax-cut extension that is unlikely to become law before November.  Washington (CNN) -- The U.S. House on Wednesday took the opposite action on tax cuts as the Senate, rejecting a Democratic proposal championed by President Barack Obama to extend lower tax rates for middle-income Americans, and then passing a Republican plan to maintain the lower rates for everyone for a year.  In separate votes that amounted to political posturing in an election year, House Republicans joined by more than a dozen Democrats passed the GOP measure by a 256-171 margin.  Minutes earlier, a similar tally defeated the Democratic alternative that would maintain the lower rates for income up to $250,000 for families and $200,000 for individuals for a year.  Wednesday's votes extended a congressional stalemate over the Bush tax cuts from 2001 and 2003 that has come to symbolize legislative inaction in Washington.  Why House tax vote is really about drawing battle lines for the fall  Last week, the Senate passed the Democratic version in a sharply polarized 51-48 vote, while the Republican plan was defeated 45-54.  Normally, a congressional conference committee would negotiate a compromise between the measures passed by each chamber, but the volatile tax issue has little chance of receiving further consideration before the November election.  Republicans seeking to shrink the size of government oppose any higher taxes and argue the Democratic plan of allowing rates to increase on higher-income Americans will stunt economic growth.  GOP leaders say anything short of renewing all the current tax rates amounts to a massive tax increase on small businesses whose owners report their income through personal rather than corporate returns.  Democrats contend Republicans are holding hostage tax breaks for the middle class -- including 97% of small business owners -- in order to keep lower tax rates for 2% of American taxpayers earning in excess of the $250,000 threshold.  Both sides agree on extending the lower rates for middle-income Americans, Democrats argue, but they say Republicans are preventing that from happening out of allegiance to a dogmatic opposition to any kind of tax increase on even the wealthiest Americans.  Opinion: Why are tax hikes politically radioactive?  Democrats also point to polling that shows a majority of Americans support their approach.  Wednesday's votes completed each party's opening bid in what is sure to be a frenzied legislative negotiating session after the November vote.  The economy is approaching a so-called "fiscal cliff" brought on by the looming expiration of several tax cuts as well as the approach of a series of mandatory spending cuts.  Senate votes on competing tax plans  CNN's Alan Silverleib, Ted Barrett and Deirdre Walsh contributed to this report.  Part of complete coverage on  Catch up with all the latest news, photos and comments from the London 2012 Olympic Games in CNN's live blog.  updated 2:09 PM EDT, Tue July 31, 2012  CNN's Isa Soares reports on those in unemployment-wracked Spain who are selling their eggs and sperm to make ends meet.  updated 10:52 AM EDT, Thu August 2, 2012  Under the streets of the Paris lies a world draped in darkness. Tunnels are narrow, ceilings are low and death is on display.  updated 9:02 AM EDT, Thu August 2, 2012  It has been called the first "Twitter Olympics" in the West, including by CNN. But in China the London 2012 is the first "Weibo Olympics."  updated 3:17 PM EDT, Tue July 31, 2012  According to Mitt Romney and campaign aides, there were no gaffes and no ill-advised statements on the Republican candidate's overseas trip.  updated 10:03 AM EDT, Tue July 31, 2012  Meet the Egyptian TV station run by and featuring women wearing the niqab.  updated 9:00 AM EDT, Tue July 31, 2012  Eric Moussambani swam the worst 100m time in the history of the Olympics. Now 34, 'Eric the Eel' is hoping to return to the pool at Rio 2016.  updated 10:50 AM EDT, Thu August 2, 2012  You might think you're a big deal on Twitter. But unless you've got more than 20,000 followers there's a five-year-old horse outtweeting you.  updated 9:45 AM EDT, Sun July 29, 2012  Israelis and Palestinians in Jerusalem tell CNN which U.S. presidential candidate is better for their cause.  updated 9:46 AM EDT, Thu August 2, 2012  Could motorsports become a major industry in football-obsessed Nigeria? It will be if one Nigerian businessman has his way.  updated 9:01 PM EDT, Fri July 27, 2012  When five teenagers sat down and posed for a picture at Copco Lake in 1982, they didn't plan on making it a tradition. But that's what it became.  updated 12:52 PM EDT, Mon July 30, 2012  A Dutchman has built a replica of Noah's Ark to biblical proportions, following a dream his homeland would be flooded.  Most popular stories right now
In more election-year posturing, the U.S. House passes a Republican plan to extend the Bush era tax cuts for everyone.