WASHINGTON (Reuters) – President Barack Obama’s budget chief said on Tuesday he saw some signs that U.S. lawmakers could strike a deficit reduction deal by a November 23 deadline despite no visible indications of progress in talks.

White House Budget Director Jack Lew told the Reuters Washington Summit that Republicans had begun to show some flexibility on taxes, an issue that has pitted them against Democrats, and seemed serious about avoiding another divisive budget showdown.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The 12 Democrats and Republicans serving on a congressional “super committee” have been wrangling for months over how to find at least $1.2 trillion in deficit reductions by a November 23 deadline.

At the heart of the debate is a Democratic demand that significant revenue increases be part of any 10-year deal — something Republicans have been resisting. Without Republican concessions on taxes, Democrats are not seen agreeing to the kind of healthcare and retirement benefit program savings Republicans want.

WASHINGTON, Nov 8 (Reuters) – The 12 Democrats and
Republicans serving on a congressional “super committee” have
been wrangling for months over how to find at least $1.2
trillion in deficit reductions by a Nov. 23 deadline.

At the heart of the debate is a Democratic demand that
significant revenue increases be part of any 10-year deal –
something Republicans have been resisting. Without Republican
concessions on taxes, Democrats are not seen agreeing to the
kind of healthcare and retirement benefit program savings
Republicans want.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – A special U.S. committee charged with reducing the federal deficit entered a critical week for reaching a deal amid expectations its members will fail to bridge their differences over taxes before a Nov. 23 deadline.

“Every member understands that time is running out,” said House of Representatives Democrat Chris Van Hollen, who is on the so-called super committee. “This is the moment to get it done if we’re going to get it done,” he said in an interview with MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” program on Monday.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – A special committee charged with reducing the federal deficit is entering a critical week for reaching a deal but has not considered extending its November 23 deadline, a panel member said on Monday.

“Every member understands that time is running out,” said House of Representatives Democrat Chris Van Hollen, a member of the “super committee.” “This is the moment to get it done if we’re going to get it done,” he said in an interview with MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” program.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The top Republican in the U.S. Congress, John Boehner, on Thursday said some additional revenue could be part of a deficit deal being negotiated by lawmakers, as long as it also includes significant reforms to benefits programs.

But the remarks by House of Representatives Speaker Boehner did not break the impasse over taxes as a congressional “super committee” struggles to reach a consensus on how to cut at least $1.2 trillion from deficits over 10 years.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The head of a powerful conservative voting bloc in the House of Representatives on Thursday warned against including tax or revenue increases in a deficit-reduction plan that is due by November 23.

“I am very concerned about anything that says ‘revenue’ because let’s just be honest; revenue for Democrats has become code for tax increases,” said Representative Jim Jordan in an interview with Reuters.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The top Republican in Congress, John Boehner, Thursday said some additional revenue could be part of a deficit deal being negotiated by lawmakers, as long as it also includes significant reforms to benefits programs.

But the remarks by House of Representatives Speaker Boehner did not break the impasse over taxes as a congressional “super committee” struggles to reach a consensus on how to cut at least $1.2 trillion from deficits over 10 years.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – With Republicans and Democrats in a familiar deadlock over taxes, prospects for crafting a deficit reduction deal before a November 23 deadline are poor, a top Democratic lawmaker said on Wednesday.

Congressional leaders are becoming more involved in the high-stakes process, aides said, but so far there were no signs of progress by a special “super committee” of 12 Republican and Democratic lawmakers toward a plan to reduce U.S. budget deficits by at least $1.2 trillion over 10 years.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Budget experts warned on Tuesday of dire consequences if the congressional “super committee” fails to come up with a deficit reduction plan within a month, amid signs negotiations are faltering.

“I’m worried you’re going to fail, fail the country,” Erskine Bowles, who was President Bill Clinton’s chief of staff and who helped lead a deficit-reduction panel last year, bluntly told the committee that is charged with finding at least $1.2 trillion in reductions over the next decade.