The Republican-controlled House has passed a bill that would extend a Social Security payroll tax cut but add on a series of unrelated provisions opposed by Democrats. In addition to the tax cut, the bill also calls for speeding the construction of the proposed Keystone XL pipeline that would move tar sands oil from Canada to Texas. The vote comes in a defiance of a veto threat from President Obama, who has said he will reject any effort to link the tax cut to unrelated proposals. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid says the bill is “dead on arrival” in the Senate.