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Subscribe to RSSKey staffers huddle behind closed doors against the backdrop of a snowy capital as they attempt to hammer a last-minute deal to avoid going over the so-called fiscal cliff. NBC's Kristen Welker reports.
Updated 6:30 p.m. ET -- President Barack Obama tasked the United States Senate with trying to resolve the “fiscal cliff” in the waning hours before the New Year following a meeting between congressional leaders and the president.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., will lead the last-minute effort to avert the automatic tax hikes and spending cuts set to take effect on Jan. 1 unless Congress acts.
And Obama said he is “optimistic” they can reach an accord before midnight on New Year’s Eve, the point at which the government would hit the fiscal cliff.
Absent that, the president said he had asked Reid to instead advance a bare-boned proposal that would extend the 2001 Bush tax cuts for income under $250,000.
Related -- Cliff Notes: Five things to watch at today's White House meeting
“I still want to get this done,” Obama said after his discussions with congressional leaders. He said “the hour for immediate action is here. It is now."
The president will appear exclusively on Sunday on NBC's "Meet the Press," where he's expected to further outline steps toward reaching a final deal.
The White House talks -- at which Obama presented no new offer to Republicans in Congress -- yielded “no concrete proposal,” Reid told reporters at the Capitol following the meeting.
President Barack Obama meets with NBC's David Gregory on Meet the Press Sunday morning. Gregory explains that for the president, this has become a matter of principle.
But in the waning hours before the end-of-year deadline, senators are now scrambling to produce a bipartisan package, at the request of Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, that can muster enough support in the House.
Reid, McConnell, Boehner, and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., spent the meeting “discussing potential options and components for a plan that could pass both chambers of Congress,” according to a Boehner aide.
But the most significant development appeared to be the emerging consensus that any final agreement would have to emerge from the Senate. That deal would necessarily require a “bipartisan approach,” according to the office of McConnell, the Republican leader in the upper chamber.
Among the major sticking points, senior Democratic aides told NBC’s Kelly O’Donnell, involve the income threshold at which tax rates would be allowed to rise and the level at which estates are taxed.
Boehner’s failed effort last week to push through a fallback plan with only Republican votes laid bare the internal GOP divisions after conservatives balked at supporting a plan from the speaker to allow tax rates to rise on income over $1 million.
The unsuccessful effort suggested that Boehner would need to lean upon Pelosi for Democratic votes if a deal -- which has eluded Obama and Congress for the better part of the last two years -- is to pass.
A Senate-led agreement, though, faces no surefire guarantee of passage in the House.
“The speaker told the president that if the Senate amends the House-passed legislation and sends back a plan, the House will consider it -- either by accepting or amending,” Boehner’s aide emailed reporters.
One of the biggest sticking points in the fiscal cliff negotiations has been which income level ought to be required to pay additional taxes. On Friday, Democratic and Republican leaders met for an hour at the White House. NBC's Peter Alexander reports.
The protracted stalemate between Obama-led Democrats and congressional Republicans had prompted Friday's last-ditch meeting at the White House. It lasted just over an hour, and included Vice President Joe Biden and Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner.
Sources familiar with the meeting said that Obama made no new offer to Republicans, urging them to hold an up-or-down vote on a Democratic proposal to preserve existing tax rates for income under $250,000 and extend unemployment benefits (among other unresolved issues).
It’s that very proposal which Obama said he would ask Reid to advance should he and McConnell fail to strike a deal.
“I believe such a proposal could pass both houses with bipartisan majorities, as long as those leaders actually allow it to come to a vote,” he said.
Republicans had previously rejected such a proposal, but could feel pressure to relent to administration pressure in order to forestall across-the-board tax hikes in just a few days. The source familiar with the meeting told NBC's Peter Alexander and Kristen Welker that Obama asked Republicans what they would be willing to support, if not that proposal.
Amid negotiations toward a final deal, the House was set to return to Washington on Sunday at Boehner’s request, and remain at work through Jan. 2 -- the final day before the 112th Congress concludes and the next batch of lawmakers are sworn into office.
In the meanwhile, Obama voiced frustration toward the repeated pattern in Congress these past few years of lurching from crisis to crisis before reaching a last-minute deal to stave off catastrophe.
“The American people are watching what we do here. Obviously, their patience is already thin. This is deja vu all over again,” Obama said. “America wonders why, for some reason, in this town you can’t get stuff done in an organized timetable ... The American people are not going to have any patience for a politically self-inflicted wound to our economy.”
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This just in:
ahmadinejad, putin, castro, Jintao support obama's creation of amerikka!!!!
Post #1256 was brought to you by someone who "spreads" his B.S. and believes his own lies.
(side note to Gary K....you are an easy mark!)
say, your to quick for me?????????????????????roflmfao!!!!
Gary...
Yes, WAY TOO QUICK FOR YOUR FEEBLE MIND! Now, pick up your a$$ ...you look ridiculous!!!
Higher taxes? Lower spending? Unemployed have to get a job? That doesn't sound like a cliff or a problem. It sounds like the solution.
Obama's lacking leadership is truly apparent with this fiscal cliff fiasco. What was the first thing he did after returning from his $5 million dollar taxpayer funded vacation??......Obama signed an executive order last Thursday granting RAISES for VP Biden, all of Congress, and most federal workers. Is Obama really this clueless?? Does he not know that our country is on the verge of bankruptcy and needs to make cuts...not spend more??? Does he really believe that Congress deserves raises??? .....or was he offering a raise in exchange for something not yet known?
The clowns in the GOP were SURE they would win in Nov, yet lost the WH and not only did they not get the majority in the Senate, they lost seats there and in the House.
They are now running around like chickens with their heads cut off, and have NO IDEA what to do!
comrade obama knows exactly what he is doing!!!
He is creating the amerikka, big mo can love!!!
...good thing Obama gave them all raises, right Herron?
Still using that illegal avatarm Hopeless????
Give comrade Gary a big wet sloppy Hopeless kiss!
Just curious...when did the President decide on Congressional pay raises? Congress always did that on their own before....Hopeisgone would not be lying, would he?
Say What.....are you still incapable of using Google to look it up for yourself?? I would post the link here for you, but I'm tired of constantly doing tons of work only to support leaching democrats......
Hopeless,
When you make a statement ...it is YOUR job to support it with proof, not mine to research it. If you cannot provide a link, then obviously your statement must be false. That would certainly be no surprise, historically you have made up your own "facts" and claim them as truth.
Still waiting for your excuse for using an illegal avatar....of course you are too gutless to provide a reason.
Hopeisgone (and so is your mind),
Unfunded (federal deficit expenditures) Coporate tax cuts are expiring no matter what. The GOP legislated those cuts to expire after 10 years. It is the GOP who rejects the present expiration they, themselves, legislated. And the GOP is willing to send 98% of middle class tax cuts off the cliff over it. By coincidence, after 12 years of those GOP cuts and GOP two unfunded wars waged between 2001-2009, we now have explosive federal deficits. And who did you say had a lack of leadership on an impending fiscal cliff negotiation over our deficit????? It's called Math.........you have amnesia....
Send you check or money order to Republican National Committee 310 First Street, SE Washington, DC 20003. They will solve all your problems for you and they really really really need the ching.
How Cool is America?
Elon Musk, a South African native who moved himself and all his family to this country, many of them through Canada first.
Two days ago, Space X....the company that he built ( Yes, I built ThAT ) Proved a real life dream of dreamers everywhere.
Space X built a large rocket that did what no other craft has EVER been able to do in this planets gravity.
Totally Bitchin!
YEEEHAHHH!! We agree!
Slodon:
In another thread you asked: "Maybe you should ask Harry Reid why he is sitting on the House Bills sent to him over the last 2 years."
Have you read them? Each and everyone contained a provision to repeal Obamacare....that is why....
OH REALLY? Can you show me where in each Bill that is stated? Lets try HR 72. Show me where that Bill calls for the repeal of Obamacare. Please give me a section or paragraph or a passage.
Have you read it? Let me clarify, and I know I posted wrong....they contained either a windfall provision for the wealthy OR a repeal of something like Obamacare.
Sorry for the confusion. BTW, how have you been? Been a long time since we talked.
Yes. But it looks like you haven't.
I've been good thanks. And you? Hope you had a good Christmas.
Actually HR72 isn't a Bill it's a resolution calling for the inventory and review of Gov't regulations.
Had a great Christmas, Don. Had 6 of my grandkids, 2 great-grandkids here (they went home yesterday). Got to dress up and play Santa!
HR 72 would have stopped $$$ from going to a spouse if she remarrried....however, the amount she would have received would NOT have gone back to original military persons pension. It would go back to the Defense Disbursements, like they need more money.
It would have been another penalty against a military pensioner.
HR72 never passed....
Question, Don....how is this mess with the taxes, entitlements, etc. ever going to get resolved. Why can't the Congress go back to the days when they really worked together.
It hurts me to see what has happened to America. Even when there were differences, they could work together. I am going as far back as Eisenhower....since then bi-partisanship has vanished! Why? Why the intense hatred on both sides?
Is it a racial thing? Other prejudices? What has happened to us? Why the childish name-calling, bastardizing the President's name, his wife's name, Romney's name....why?
So tell me what windfall for the wealthy is in HR 2018 or what section repeals or limits Obamacare?
I think you just answered your own question with that statement. The Progressives see race and prejudice in everything. A person can't disagree with them without being a racist or bigot in their eyes.
But isn't that true on both sides? The venom between the Repubs and the Dems gets so vicious.
HR 2018 the big hangup appears to be over the EPA controls...Dems like the EPA, GOP does not...where does the money paying the EPA go? Not to pay down the debt, but to pay private corporations to do the jobs the EPA does now.
HR72 never passed is correct. It's still sitting on Harry Reid's desk. It passed the House with a 391-28 vote.
Yes, why would we want to penalize a military pensioner by NOT giving him the money that would have gone to his ex-spouse? That sets him up for legal liability for alimony
You see, you and I disagree on many things, but we can still talk without name-calling, accusations, etc. Why can't this happen in Washington, or even on these internet boards?
Yes that is true for both sides. Those on the extreme of each side. I think we have a fundamental disagreement on the size and purpose of Gov't. The Conservatives want a smaller intrusion of Gov't in our lives. The Progressives want Gov't in every aspect of our lives. What happened to personal responsibility? Why can't I have a 32 oz. Big Gulp in NYC?
The Big Gulp thing in NY is the biggest joke by a city I have ever seen....and I grew up in New York City!
When I was in high school, back in the 1950s, I worked in what now would be called a fast-food place, called Nedick's. Their specialty was hot dogs, 1/4 pound on a hot bun, loaded with toppings, and a 44 or 56 ounce drink of orange flavor and sugar! The only regulations were imposed by parents who had to pay dental bills!
How, if at all, do the 2 sides come to getting back to being able to communicate? And, even more, how do we calm down the hatred postings that happen here, day in and day out? I have tried to mellow mine out as best I can, and I see you have too.
Don't you think that the EPA is pushing things to far? This might interest you.
http://westernfarmpress.com/government/epa-withdraws-order-after-farmer-s-lawsuit
http://tvfmontana.org/?p=800
Of course they are....like most agencies are doing. There is no such thing as happy mediums. I am not saying the Dems are always correct, far from it. But, on the other hand, explain the GOP wanting to give the Pentagon $2 trillion that the Pentagon does not want, nor did it ask for!
What 2 Trillion? Are you talking about the 2 Trillion over 10 years that Romney wanted to spend? Didn't he lose the election? I haven't heard any Republican Congressman or Senator call for that increase,have you? If so who was it.
Do you realize the costs incurred by that family or the State of Va. just because the EPA is pushing things to far? Are you OK with that? Would you be OK with limiting the EPA power?
Yes, I was referring to Romney....why did the GOP even accept that from him? Were they that afraid of him or Grover?
The EPA, yes I would love to see their powers limited...most DEMS would.
Don, I gotta run, my middle son flies home tomorrow on a 7am flight....Take good care, and best wishes to you and yours for New Year's!
Like always, thanks for being a gentleman!
Good night.
The extra 2 trillion was to cover the cost of war with Iran.
Watch Gasland and the new upcoming documentary called Frack Nation and then tell me the EPA needs to be declawed. Until Haliburton is sued into the floor and the natural gas drillers in colorado are sued into the floor and the states take control of that industry fully, the EPA needs all the power it can get.
Off topic question:
How come when someone talks to God, we call it prayer, but when God talks to us, we call it schizophrenia.?
He's got HOPE, too bad the people don't.
Harry Reid promises never to allow a republican bill to be brought before the senate...and Obama promises to veto any bill from the republicans...so what's the point in this exercise of futility...the democrats are obstructionists rending any attempt by the house to have little chance of passing into law so they can do what's right for the American people...left is never right...
The point is Democrats want to blame republicans and they know the media will follow regardless of the truth.
Great leadership our president had an hour to spare on it. Back in the day when pres Clinton was in the white house congressional leaders and him would get together behind closed doors and spend all day if that's what it took drinking and smoking cigars and working out a compromise. and our president has an hour to spend. no wonder this country such a mess. Real lack of leadership at the top!
When it comes to walking to the edge of the fiscal cliff, President Obama's "self-inflicted" crisis he created upon signing the Budget Control Act of 2011, I'm right behind him.
M.J.-CT,
For your information, President Obama signed the Budget Control Act of 2011 to resolve the ceiling debt crisis created by Republicans in the first place. According to USspending.com, we note within mathematical archives of Federal deflcit figures:
Federal Deficit FY 2009 (July 2008-July 2009) was at $1.4 trillion (Bush left office on Jan 2009).
Federal Deficit FY 2013 (July 2012-July2013) is at $901 billion after 4 years of Obama.
As we can note, our Federal deficit has decreased by $499 billion under Obama. The deficit was increased, dramatically, 8 years later. After Clinton left a surplus in 2000 until FY 2009.....our deficit grew to $1.4 trillion. And please.....do not do what most sorry a$$ Republicans do by arguing with me about Public Debt and GDP. Our Federal deficit i the principle of amount owed that accrues interest from Investors/Securities of Public debt guaranteed in the event of default. It's called, Capitalism. No Party is responsible individual American citizen decisions to purchase/owe debt to Creditors. The Consittution gives Gov't NO authority to limit American citizen debt. It is the citizen who incurs debt trggering Investments/Securities.
Hi Dee,MJ CT, Trausler, and William Root...NICE TO SEE THE GOP CRYBABIES OUT IN FORCE!!!
Common sense tells you spending has to be cut. Increase taxes on a few would have hardly any change to the problem. We must get politics out of government. Limit time in government , congress to eight years. Would cause less tax waste buying votes for reelection. This might be the only cure.
Dems support gueer marrage
Dems support disarming America
Dems support legalized drugs
Dems support illegal immigration
Dems support less responsibility
Dems support the legalized theft of peoples money
Tell me again why I shouldnt be republican..
Todays Democrat party is flat out UNAMERICAN!
Simpson Bowes the presidents own commision burns his ass and 180 disagrees with the democrats solution to the cliff.
People who vote democrat are SUCKERS!
People who vote for either of the big 2 are suckers.
Dems support equal distribution of rights.
Republicans support throwing billions away in a drug war we3 have made no progress in and into a federal prison system which is vampirising the budget.
Prove to me dems support illegal immigration.
Dems support personal responsibility for the individual and regulation for the massive corporations who no longer care about the individual working for or buying from them.
Republicans supported GWB throwing a false surplus away and into Haliburton from which Cheney had money wired back to himself and gwb.
Now explain to me why being a republican is any better?
Jerry,
You are referring to "suckers" from your own personal experience as one? For the Koch Brothers?
I bet you are a good Koch sucker.
The idea that these overpaid pieces of s--t can actually justify their ridiculous salaries and not accomplish anything is absurd and perverse. It's pretty obvious why $250,000 was the cut-off number on the taxation proposal. They all make approx. $174,000 annually. That keeps them out of the loop. We have ignorantly voted this group of vermin into the Senate and House because we fully believed in what Democracy was all about and we were practicing it because we feel that that is what empowers us. Which is what we are supposed to be so proud of as Americans. However, we have been bamboozled. As time has passed we have been fed a little more "up the A-s" each year. A little at a time. Just so it doesn't hurt too bad. That would make us lash out. These guys are not going to suffer one iota if we go over the cliff. Their health insurance is taken care of. Their salaries will not change. Thy may not be able to run their BMW or Mercedes through the local Sonic car wash as often as they want , but they won't be hurt. This is the purest form of "BULLS--T" you can possibly feed the American people. I don't know about the rest of you, but I would like to chase mine with some "Dewers on the rocks" and stone the whole lot of them. Digest that, and have a happy new year.
How sad it must be to be a Democrat today. The party is nothing more than a coalition of losers and freeloaders led by a unqualified pied piper named Obama promoting class warfare. It's easy to understand their position on taxes because few of them pay any. Their party-line resistance to Voter ID laws and their dream of granting citizenship to illegal aliens - transparent ploys to increase their voter base - represent borderline treason. How do these people sleep at night?