WASHINGTON, Dec 17 (Reuters) – U.S. President Barack Obama
and top Republican John Boehner met at the White House on Monday
as hopes rose that Washington will be able to head off steep tax
hikes and spending cuts that could push the economy into
recession next year.

The 45-minute meeting is a further sign that talks to avert
the “fiscal cliff” could be yielding progress after weeks of
stalemate, and aides from both parties said they were optimistic
that a deal could be reached in coming days.

WASHINGTON, Dec 15 (Reuters) – President Barack Obama is not
ready to accept a new offer from the Republican leader of the
U.S. House of Representatives to raise taxes on top earners in
exchange for major cuts in entitlement programs, a source said
late on Saturday.

The shape and details of Boehner’s offer were uncertain
Saturday night, as was the exact reason the president was
prepared to reject it.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – President Barack Obama is not ready to accept a new offer from the Republican leader of the U.S. the House of Representatives to raise taxes on top earners in exchange for major cuts in entitlement programs, a source said late Saturday.

The shape and details of Boehner’s offer were uncertain Saturday night, as was the exact reason the president was prepared to reject it.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Mass murder in Connecticut silenced “fiscal cliff” talk on Saturday as the White House and Congress quietly got ready for a final scramble to avert the tax hikes and spending cuts set for the New Year, with sessions of the U.S. House of Representatives now scheduled just days before Christmas.

President Barack Obama canceled a trip he had planned to make next Wednesday to Portland, Maine to press his case for tax hikes for the wealthy. His weekly radio and Internet address on Saturday focused on Newtown, the site of Friday’s school shootings, in which a gunman killed 20 children and six adults before taking his own life.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Congressional Republicans dug in on their opposition to raising taxes on the wealthy on Thursday, even as polls showed them at a growing disadvantage in the U.S. “fiscal cliff” showdown with President Barack Obama.

U.S. House of Representatives Speaker John Boehner, the top congressional Republican, refused to give ground and voiced frustration about talks with the White House to avert the steep tax hikes and spending cuts that will be triggered at the end of the year unless Congress intervenes.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Congressional Republicans dug in on their opposition to raising taxes on the wealthy on Thursday, even as polls showed them at a growing disadvantage in the U.S. “fiscal cliff” showdown with President Barack Obama.

U.S. House of Representatives Speaker John Boehner, the top congressional Republican, refused to give ground and voiced frustration about talks with the White House to avert the steep tax hikes and spending cuts that will be triggered at the end of the year unless Congress intervenes.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Republican House Speaker John Boehner accused President Barack Obama of pushing the country toward the “fiscal cliff” on Friday and of wasting another week without making progress in talks.

With three weeks left before a combination of steep tax hikes and deep spending cuts kicks in unless Congress intervenes, Boehner said the administration had adopted a “my way or the highway” approach and was engaging in reckless talk about going over the cliff.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Republican House Speaker John Boehner accused U.S. President Barack Obama of pushing the country toward the “fiscal cliff” on Friday and of wasting another week without making progress in talks.

With three weeks left before a combination of steep tax hikes and deep spending cuts kicks in unless Congress intervenes, Boehner said the administration had adopted a “my way or the highway” approach and was engaging in reckless talk about going over the cliff.

WASHINGTON, Dec 7 (Reuters) – With about three weeks left
before the “fiscal cliff” deadline, the task of avoiding the
steep tax hikes and spending cuts was down to talks between
Republican House Speaker John Boehner and President Barack
Obama, according to Capitol Hill aides.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and House Minority Leader
Nancy Pelosi are “being kept in the loop,” said an aide close to
both Democratic leaders, ready to work out any details.

WASHINGTON, Dec 7 (Reuters) – With about three weeks left
before the “fiscal cliff” deadline, the task of avoiding the
steep tax hikes and spending cuts was down to talks between
Republican House Speaker John A. Boehner and President Barack
Obama, according to Capitol Hill aides.

Democratic Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and House
Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi are “being kept in the loop,” said
an aide close to Democratic leaders, ready to work out any
details.