Politics. On Point.

Democrats and Republicans struck a deal to avoid the fiscal cliff to start 2013 off in promising direction. The deal prevents rising taxes on the wealthiest two percent of Americans while preventing a middle-class tax hike that could have potential sent the economy in to free fall. With the current proposal more than 98 percent of Americans and 97 percent of small businesses will not see their income taxes go up.  Millions of families will continue to receive tax credits and companies will continue to receive tax credits for the jobs that they create.  Said President Obama, "But I think we all recognize this law is just one step in the broader effort to strengthen our economy and broaden opportunity for everybody.  The fact is the deficit is still too high, and we're still investing too little in the things that we need for the economy to grow as fast as it should." As it currently stands the bill makes permanent the temporary rates on taxable income at or bel...

UPDATE: As the two sides go back and forth to solve the issue of the so-called fiscal cliff, White House Press Secretary Jay Carney issued a statement today that reveals President Obama is less willing to accept the latest offer from Congress. States Carney, "The Speaker’s “Plan B” approach doesn’t meet this test because it can’t pass the Senate and therefore will not protect middle class families, and does little to address our fiscal challenges with zero spending cuts." "The President has put a balanced, reasonable proposal on the table that achieves significant deficit reduction and reflects real compromise by meeting the Republicans halfway on revenue and more than halfway on spending from where each side started.  That is the essence of compromise."   President Obama continues to work with Republicans to reach a bipartisan solution that averts the fiscal cliff, protects the middle class, helps the economy, and puts the nation on a fiscally sust...

President Obama held a meeting in the Roosevelt Room and a conference call with a bipartisan group of mayors, county officials and community leaders to discuss his proposals in the fiscal cliff negotiations. The White House is reporting that the president spoke with Tampa, FL Mayor Bob Buckhorn;  St. Paul, MN Mayor Chris Coleman; St. Columbus, OH Mayor Michael Coleman; Bluffton, IN  Mayor Ted Ellis:  Dallas County, TX  Judge Clay Jenkins; Cincinnati, OH Mayor Mark Mallory;  Executive Russ Pry of Summit County, OH; Avondale, AZ Mayor Marie Lopez Rogers and Laredo, TX Mayor Raul Salinas. Earlier this week, Micheal Steel, speaking on behalf of Boehner and company, made these comments. "We sent the White House a counter-offer that would achieve tax and entitlement reform to solve our looming debt crisis and create more American jobs. As the Speaker said today, we're still waiting for the White House to identify what spen...