fiscal cliff

Obama Says Fiscal Cliff Deal Close, Not Done

Posted on 12/31/2012 by | General News | Comments

PoliticsBy David Espo and Julie Pace of The Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — Agonizingly close to a New Year’s Eve compromise, the White House and congressional Republicans agreed Monday to block across-the-board tax increases set for midnight, but held up a final deal as they haggled away the final hours of 2012 in a dispute over spending cuts. “It appears that an agreement to prevent this New Year’s tax hike is within sight,” President Barack Obama said in an early-afternoon …

Senate Leaders Offer Dour Take on ‘Cliff’ Talks

Posted on 12/30/2012 by | General News | Comments

PoliticsBy Alan Fram and Andrew Taylor of The Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — The top Senate negotiators on the effort to prevent the government from going over the “fiscal cliff” offered a pessimistic assessment Sunday, barely 24 hours before a deadline to avert tax hikes on virtually every American worker. But negotiations continued, with Vice President Joe Biden taking on a new role. With the two sides differing on the income threshold for higher tax rates and how to deal …

Last-Ditch Effort to Avoid Fiscal Cliff Under Way

Posted on 12/29/2012 by | General News | Comments

PoliticsBy David Espo and Jim Kuhnhenn of The Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — The end game at hand, the White House and Senate leaders made a final stab at compromise Friday night to prevent middle-class tax increases from taking effect at the turn of the new year and possibly block sweeping spending cuts as well. “I’m optimistic we may still be able to reach an agreement that can pass both houses in time,” President Barack Obama said at the White …

Over the Fiscal Cliff: What Kind of Landing?

Posted on 12/26/2012 by | General News | Comments

Bulletin Today | PoliticsBy Connie Cass of The Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — Efforts to save the nation from going over a year-end “fiscal cliff” were in disarray as lawmakers fled the Capitol for their Christmas break. “God only knows” how a deal can be reached now, House Speaker John Boehner declared. President Barack Obama, on his way out of town himself, insisted a bargain could still be struck before Dec. 31. “Call me a hopeless optimist,” he said. A look at why …

Medicare Premiums Could Rise for Many Retirees

Posted on 12/25/2012 by | General News | Comments

Bulletin Today | Personal Health | PoliticsBy Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar of The Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — They may not agree on much else, but there’s a change to Medicare that President Barack Obama and Republicans both support: Expand a little-known law so more retirees that the government considers well-off are required to pay higher monthly premiums. It’s on the short list in the budget talks, raising $20 billion or more over 10 years. That could come as a shock to many seniors who would have to …

Over the Fiscal Cliff: What You Need to Know Right Now

Posted on 12/21/2012 by | News | Comments

Bulletin Today | PoliticsPicture this: It’s the new year and Congress and the White House still don’t have a budget deal. Don’t look now, but we’ve gone over the “fiscal cliff.” That means most federal programs will be cut between 7.6 and 9.6 percent across the board. Income tax rates will go up. And there’s a host of other unresolved financial issues that we’ll be facing. What does that mean for you? We turned to a number of policy experts around AARP. Here …

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