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Subscribe to RSSWASHINGTON -- Pick your metaphor: coal-stuffed stocking, Mr. Grinch, nice-and-naughty list. Lawmakers are once again threatening to stay in session as long as it takes during the holiday season.
In a message to House members today, House Majority Leader Eric Cantor, R-Va., warned members that they would not be going home for the year until the fiscal cliff has been addressed.
Paul J. Richards / AFP - Getty Images
Capitol Hill workmen roll up the carpet used by VIP's after the Capitol Christmas Tree lighting ceremony on December 4, 2012 on the West Front Lawn of the US Capitol in Washington.
"Members are further reminded that the House will not adjourn the 112th Congress until a credible solution to the fiscal cliff has been found," Cantor said.
The warning comes as the House leaves town today after the Republican leadership canceled Thursday's session, leaving only three currently-scheduled days left on the 2012 legislative calendar to avert the fiscal cliff. GOP leaders themselves will remain camped out in D.C. in case there is new movement on the negotiations, and rank-and-file members have been instructed to expect more added legislative days later in month.
With the fiscal cliff earning everything from doomsday predictions to despairing acceptance from commentators, it's no surprise that Hill leaders are invoking the ghosts of Christmastime sessions past to urge movement in the negotiations. Senate veterans have the memory fresh in their minds after an unusual 2009 Christmas Eve Senate vote on the Obama-backed health care bill.
As time ticks down for President Barack Obama and House Republicans to make a deal on the fiscal cliff before the end of the year, the pressure is stepping up. The Daily Rundown's Chuck Todd reports.
According to the Senate Historical Office, holiday season sessions were not unusual before widespread train and air transportation made it easy for members to travel to their home states a few weeks after coming to Washington on the first Monday in December. But, while numerous congresses have come as close as the 23rd, leaders' frequent foreshadowing of Yuletides in the halls of Congress have generally only served to motivate their members to finish their business soon enough to get home before the sun goes down on Festivus night.
While lame-duck sessions historically don't hold many votes, and are not in D.C. for many days, the optics of today's departure won't burnish the image of a Congress with historically low approval ratings facing some of the toughest economic decisions in history. Since returning to DC after the November elections, the House has had only 16 roll call votes, and has been in session for 11 days.
In the last lame duck session in 2010, Congress was around for 19 days, taking 99 votes.
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The GOP congress is exhausted with the work on the fiscal cliff. The six day weekend they started today is well earned. Next Tuesday when they return they will be able to resume passing resolutions reaffirming "In God we trust" on coinage.
I don't know what God they believe in but it's not the same God that says to take care of the less fortunate. Take care of the ill. It's not the same God that says do not kill. I wonder if all the pro lifer's out there are against the death penalty? I wonder if all the pro lifer's out there support gun control so less people are killed? I wonder if all the pro lifer's out there are against wars that kill thousands of innocent children?
It is going to suck to be rich in California. State income tax going up to 52% and the feds will want 40%. They will have 8% profit to pay social security.
Kevin, when you post something that seems outrageous, it is really, really easy to fact check your claim.
http://ballotpedia.org/wiki/index.php/California_Proposition_30,_Sales_and_Income_Tax_Increase_%282012%29
The recently adopted income tax increases has the highest rate of 13.3% on taxable incomes over $1,000,000. I'm sure you know, but just in case, taxable income is defined as gross income minus all lawful credits, exemptions and deductions.
And we know the politicians love to give loopholes to the rich. Mitt pays 13 percent tax on 20 million in income. Where is the 35 percent they say is too high.
I say the GOP should let taxes go up for the rich -- double it!! Start with congress members and the Hollywood crowd, they have plenty of money. Leave what's left of the middle class alone.
Also let Obama "own" it...it's his watch. Obama needs to stop campaigning, it's so so old. He won !!
Terrie, Obama is proposing that tax rates for $250,00 taxable income and below be left as in current law - which is leaving the middle class alone, as you directed.
gop aka grinc looosers
Yet not one DAMN word about cutting spending.
What is it that we don't get with what is going on in Greece?
You might find this section of Obama's budget proposal to Congress interesting. It is the section regarding Cuts, Consolidations and Savings:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/omb/budget/fy2013/assets/ccs.pdf
Bruce
Looks like you don't realize that Budget proposal by Obama didn't get ONE DEMOCRAT VOTE!! So why is it relevant now?
Hey gop,,you suck
Cut your throats losers
As much as I do agree with you Terrie..
It just won't work.
There are NOT enough of the so called 250k 'rich' people to even scratch the surface of the trillions that we owe.
BUT...the middle class has those numbers and it won't be long before Barry gets up and tells us that, 'Due to miscalculations...taxes WILL go up on ALL Americans.'
I've got a week's salary riding on this.
Stay tuned...
Lest you forgot, The President won reelection calling him Barry just makes you look small and backward as all republican ideas, which is protect the rich and all Corporations and forget the rest of us Americans who do most of the work and protecting this country!
I'll take that bet, because like the President campaigned on is that he wants the bush era tax cuts to continue for 98% of Americans...
Heard their is a run on Hari Kari Kits complete with Samurai Swords being sent to the repubs who like Cliff Jumping.
A 3 day work week when there is a fiscal cliff approaching. We should impeach every one of them for DERELICTION OF DUTY.
I have to work Christmas eve to get payroll done, if the US Congress has to work to get everyone paid then so what, I don't feel sorry for them one bit. Do you stinking jobs and you won't get into these messes.
I read in the Express News leaflet today that the Republican Congress doesn't want the tax cuts to expire on the rich but wants them to expire on everyone else as part of their deal. Under Obama this isn't going to happen. The Congress behaves like little kids on a playground when they get to bickering and not compromising. Maybe, as this article states if you threaten them that this year they won't get any Christmas gifts if they don't resolve the Fiscal Cliff issue maybe that will work.
Congress is nothing but a bunch of paid traitors and they should be punished for treason.
"lower tax rates lead to larger budget deficits unless they are accompanied by spending restraint"
I can't take credit for this statement of wisdom. But, it does MAKE SENSE. I believe that most taxpayers get this message. Its our leadership and representation in Washington that can't agree on this principle. Hell, they REFUSE to agree on most anything!!
I don't care if you are GOP, DEM, Indie, or Teabagger. Let's get this done!
The Republicans will come to the table or lose their place at it altogether to people willing to actually do the work of government.
With a mojority to work with, the right has actually reduced the number of days they have scheduled next year to actually be in session- which is a rather insulting and cynical spin on the idea of "reducing big government".
Their wages and benefits should be prorated based on the number of hours per year they are in session- less hours on the job should equate to less pay and a bigger medical deductible.
After all, that's just the kind of crap their cronies have inflicted on the middle class- so, let's give them a taste of their own bitter medicine to improve their understanding of the life they've condemned the majority of their constituents to by pandering to the corporate citizen at the expense of the real citizen.
You would think that after last year's proclamation these morons would decide to actually get something done through the year instead of waiting until the last what, 33 days to take care of an entire year's business. In this case we still don't have anything resembling a budget, which the fiscal cliff issue doesn't address.
None of these reps, NONE of them, should expect to take yet more time off...work them until 1700 Christmas Eve, give them Christmas Day off and get them back to work at 0700 on the 26th if they haven't gotten this last bit of major business completed.
These people get upwards of 175K a year for working what, 33 days?
All I have heard from liberals over the past 4 years is how evil the Bush tax cuts were so I don't understand why they don't support letting them all expire. Just doesn't make sense.
Many have no understanding for what is happening; they observe the actions and results without any comprehension, as if they could actually be unaffected. But they are affected, greatly affected. There is a steady advancement of a two-class society being pushed by those who greatly benefit and it’s progress is being helped by the politicians they strongly support and dictate to. It isn’t trivial and it is totally intentional; maybe not with malice but definitely disregarding the costs to others and with an all consuming selfish and arrogant greed. This country has been experiencing a pressure and a literal advancement towards being a two-class society with the top 2% feeding their insatiable “more” (never enough) appetite, striving to compete in having it all without any regard for what it costs the 98%. It is obvious in their mentality that they never have enough, in their aggressiveness to always push for more however it can be attained, in the results as the gap between them and everyone else keeps widening, as they constantly gain and the majority repeatedly looses real ground, and in the power, influence and money they consistently spend to put it over. It isn’t about others envying them or about people being jealous but rather it is about just surviving and saying enough is enough. The people can’t change them but they can reject the politicians who enable them.
I find it rather odd that a Party could blame the President for lack of leadership when their lack of action in Congress speaks for its self.
If a football team practiced as much as Congress was is in session my guess is that they would be the laughing stock of any league they would be in.
Shame on us for electing officals who's main goal is keeping power for themselves while distroying the middle class.
Did we forget the fall of 2008 that quickly, when Congress choose not to vote for the TARP stimulus package only to see the Stock Market dive close to 1,000 points, and then vote for it the next day because they didn't have the courage to do what is right in the first place! Why do we listen to these guys!
DeVos11
That was a DEMOCRAT CONTROLLED CONGRESS. FOOL!!
slodon very true, the Democrats had control and The President made the grave error that he could negotiate with the Republican leadership and get things done.
He should have grown a pair a lot sooner. If he had the 112th Congress couild have been made to look like they earned their salaries and not go down as the most useless group in the history of Congress and might have avoided an underground approval rating.
Republicans, do not give in to the Obama Administration. No deal,no compromise. We may go over the fiscal cliff and yes jobs will be lost, but millions more will be lost and we will be as Greece in a year or two if the tax cuts expire. Force the Democrats to change.
Do not be pressured. It is said again: do not give in, period.
benedictineacc yes by all means bleat on...
First of all, if sequestration takes place a significant and immediate savings takes place. The problem with that happening has far less to do with expiring tax cuts and their impacts, but it's the immediacy of it happening that will cause damage to the economy (too much at once).
Secondly, the wealthy are okay with the tax hikes so what's your problem?
Thirdly, your "Greece" prediction is pure nonsense.
By forcing the Democrats to "change", exactly what does that mean? Turn women into second class citizens? End SS and Medicare? Force elderly people to work longer?
Didn't some guy named Shakespeare write "First, kill all the lawyers" as getting to the solution of a problem? Maybe not kill all the lawyers that make up most of Congress, but let's give them a fate worse than death: Lock 'em in, allow them the diet of most unemployed--a lot a ramen noodles--and no pay or get to go home for the holidays until they get the job we voted for them done. How many of us would be given four years to get a major project done, still not anywhere near a solution and still have a job? Most of the so-called lame duck Congress are coming back in January, so why shouldn't they have to put in some unpaid overtime. Many American workers have to put in overtime at year's end so everything is in order come tax time for whoever they work for.
"Threatening" to stay in session? Really?
They should be forced to stay in session and get some work done.
What a racket... Take a look at their joke-of-a a scheduled for the 113th. How many of us would like a work year like that?
I hope everyone in Congress gets a pound of Horse Manure in their stockings. That is all this Congress deserves. They don't work hard and yet complain about needing time off. They need to have jobs like the rest of us.
SF, amen! Along with our salaries and retirement plans!
I am very confused...McCain voted for the treaty, Grassley voted No so not sure what Alaska Girl was talking about so quit reading...things got too scrambled for me. Don't see Bohner's name on the list so will go do my own research. Don't know if he voted on not, or maybe I am forgetting some basic components of legislative process.