WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Both sides in the U.S. “fiscal cliff” debate stood their ground on Tuesday as they gathered in Washington for the first time since the elections, with a fundamental tax dispute preventing a broader compromise on deficit reduction.

The White House made clear it was ready to negotiate with Republicans on taxes and spending, but a spokesman for Democratic President Barack Obama said he will not budge on insisting that the wealthy’s tax rates must rise in 2013.

WASHINGTON, Nov 13 (Reuters) – Both sides in the U.S.
“fiscal cliff” debate stood their ground on Tuesday as they
gathered in Washington for the first time since the elections,
with a fundamental tax dispute preventing a broader compromise
on deficit reduction.

The White House made clear it was ready to negotiate with
Republicans on taxes and spending, but a spokesman for
Democratic President Barack Obama said he will not budge on
insisting that the wealthy’s tax rates must rise in 2013.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The full cast of lawmakers in the U.S. “fiscal cliff” debate gathered in Washington on Tuesday for the first time since the elections, setting the stage for a week of trial balloons and rhetorical repositioning.

The U.S. Congress returned from a break after the November 6 elections, with Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell and Democratic House of Representatives Leader Nancy Pelosi set to meet with rookie lawmakers from their respective parties.

WASHINGTON, Nov 13 (Reuters) – As major U.S. businesses dive
into the Washington tax policy debate now that the presidential
election is over, some are finding themselves in an awkward
position after betting heavily on Mitt Romney.

The Republican, who lost in last week’s vote, was backed
overwhelmingly not only by Wall Street, but also by the oil and
gas, agribusiness, construction, private equity and
transportation sectors, according to data from the Center for
Responsive Politics.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Major U.S. businesses are plunging into the Washington tax policy debate now that the elections are over and some are in an awkward position after betting heavily on Mitt Romney.

The Republican, who lost in last week’s presidential vote, was backed overwhelmingly not only by Wall Street, but also by the oil and gas, agribusiness, construction, private equity and transportation sectors, according to data from the Center for Responsive Politics.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – After the November 6 elections, Congress and the White House will face tough decisions on tax rates, tax breaks and budget cuts in a convergence of high-stakes deadlines that Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke dubbed a ‘massive fiscal cliff.’

The most urgent U.S. economic issue will be finding a way down from the ‘fiscal cliff’ without plunging the U.S. economy over the edge.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The long, bumpy road to America’s “fiscal cliff” has been traced over many years by Congress and successive U.S. presidents.

Some of the steps along the way had good intentions; some had no intention at all, other than to avoid hard decisions.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – After the November 6 elections, urgent tax and spending issues must be addressed, forcing Washington’s power players to make some tough decisions before the end of the year.

Here are some of the politicians, administration figures, lobbyists and researchers who must find a way down from the “fiscal cliff” without pushing the economy over the edge.

WASHINGTON, Nov 2 (Reuters) – The long, bumpy road to
America’s “fiscal cliff” has been traced over many years by
Congress and successive U.S. presidents.

Some of the steps along the way had good intentions; some
had no intention at all, other than to avoid hard decisions.

By Kevin Drawbaugh and Kim Dixon

(Reuters) – For an event so freighted with expectations of tax insights, the Obama-Romney debate on Wednesday offered few clues on what the candidates’ tax plans could mean for average Americans.

Republican nominee Mitt Romney stuck to his strategy of promising tax cuts. To pay for this, he pledged again to close yet-to-be-named tax loopholes. And he said new tax revenues would come from economic growth spurred by lower taxes.