The days of the Tea Party controlling Congress may be numbered. Congressional aides are suggesting that Speaker of the House John Boehner is planning to work around his Tea Party members and negotiate with Democrats on a deal to extend the payroll tax cut when Congress reconvenes later this month.

Afraid of another payroll tax cut embarrassment – and afraid of a long debate that could distract Republicans trying to defeat President Obama in the next election – Boehner is uneasy about giving Tea Partiers a say in the upcoming debate.

As one aide to a member of the House Republican leadership team said, ““I think Boehner will seek a more accommodating approach to get a good percentage of Democrats to vote for it – even if it costs him a lot of House Republican freshmen…His instincts will be, not to be so reliant on House Republican freshmen.” Let’s hope this means an end to government by hostage-takers.