[Updated at 1:19 p.m. ET] President Barack Obama said he's invited congressional leaders from both parties to the White House next week for talks on reducing the deficit and avoiding the so-called fiscal cliff facing the economy at the end of the year.
Obama, speaking at the White House on Friday afternoon, repeated his stance that he wants a plan that would allow the expiration of Bush-era tax cuts only for income over $250,000.
The president said he's "not wedded to every detail of my plan," and that he's "open to compromise." But he said he wouldn't ask middle-class families to "pay down the entire deficit” while the wealthy “are not asked to pay a dime more in taxes.”
House Speaker John Boehner said earlier Friday that it's important for lawmakers to work with Obama to avert the fiscal cliff. "This is an opportunity for the president to lead," he said.
Boehner also repeated his opposition to any tax increase in a deficit deal. "Raising tax rates will slow down our ability to create the jobs everyone says they want," he told reporters Friday. But he also said that "everything on the revenue side and on the spending side has to be looked at."
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Sure ,( but remember we are there with our tried and tested road blocks).lol
But for this country's sake I hope that the Repubs get some sense of what they have been doing for the past 4 yrs.
what are u talking about the rep for the lasty 4 years where have u been u dems controled the house when Bush was in and u didnt do a darn thing but dog this country and now that your taxes are GOING to go up it is the Reps fault boy keep drinking that Obama Kool-aid and pay for all the worthless services out there. Me give me my $ that i earn and i will help the economy by spending it on something for my family not on a family i dont know becaus mommy/daddy are to dependant on govt to work...OUTLAW WELFARE FOR ALL
@Saywhat- ignorance is bliss?
No Turkey for you.(congress) They have been off for the last year, and especially the last 3 months, they better pull some overnighters. Bachmann should be a wake up call.
Seriously, CNN?
I can't post AGAIN?
You let trolls hijack names, post their rot under stolen names, and yet legitimate posters cannot post?
Fox is more honest in their duplicity.
Shame on CNN.
Hmm..I am having problems as well getting stuff posted. I just asked if that u.g.l y blonde in the picture is the Ke n yans cigar girl
Short and sweet:
GET TO WORK, CONGRESS!
Good Post.
Agreed
agreed
As a former navel aviator and past member of the prestiegeous WinterFisly flight team it worries me when others cast disparaging remarks at our government. I think they are doing a fine job.
16 trillion dollar debt and rising. That's a fine job? Wow is all I have to say.
@Jay Jay- hello republican buddy, how are you? This is getting interesting, ya?
and what job is that...i live in NYc and i can see what our govt is doing--NOTHING
So they are averaging a week a month in time at work and get paid? With holidays approaching, they will put things off till next year. SMH
I think it is time for the democrats learn to work with others. They need to learn to compromise.
Both parties need to learn to work as a team for what is best for the American people.
@Sherri- I believe it was the republicans that said if the top %ers got their Bush tax cuts we would have jobs. We tried their way for 4 years, time for a change, the democrat way. Or in 2 years we will have a new congress.
hey scottish mama who got us into this mess in the first place...it was FDR and alll his democratic policies and all u stupid dems who want to help there fellow dems not work while everyone else pays...when taxes go up i hope u all feel like paying for worthless programs like welfare
Yes, the President IS leading, Mr. Boehner, so you don't have to remind him. What leading have you done the past four years, Mr. Boehner????
NOW, LOCK THOSE FOLKS INTO THE CONFERENCE ROOM UNTIL THEY CAN COME OUT AND TELL US THEY HAVE MADE PROGRESS!
Boehner is a chicken, he is afraid of Norquist and the Tea Party.
If Boehner stands up to the Tea Party and Norquist the people will stand with him.
have u forgotten u had the house/senate for 8 years remember reid/polosi...oh thats right they were to busy downing america and bush to do anything so if we say something bad about the big O we r racist boys u guys make me sick...u guys are so afraid of the unions and here people want to help in NYC/LI and LIPA sends non union workers away boy u guys have no clue
Tear up those pledges.
Obama should, approach the cliffs' edge. And Jump. This scenario should of ALWAYS been the back of his mind from the get go in '08. Now, as anticipated last year, he wants to "single out sucessfull people".
There are entrepeneurs, really good kids graduating or just have graduated from college, where the the American Dream of being self reliant and be able to pay your debts in full is being stripped away from them. You wanted him and made your bed. Now sleep in it.
And now you have some of your do nothing congress back. Who took that dream? Bush? Who wants it to proceed, the republicans? Who signed a treasonous pledge? Republicans.
hey mama where is the Big O during this storm in NYC...why is it u guys dog us republicans and when u do nothing for this country but bash it and tear it down from the inside out...get a clue