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Obama to host fiscal cliff talks at White House Obama to host fiscal cliff talks at White House
(about 2 hours later)
US President Barack Obama has called congressional leaders to talks at the White House to try to stop the US falling over the "fiscal cliff".US President Barack Obama has called congressional leaders to talks at the White House to try to stop the US falling over the "fiscal cliff".
Republicans and Democrats have only four days to reach an agreement before hundreds of billions of dollars of tax rises and spending cuts take effect.Republicans and Democrats have only four days to reach an agreement before hundreds of billions of dollars of tax rises and spending cuts take effect.
But Senate leaders have expressed doubt in recent days that a deal can be done. Reports say Mr Obama will propose a smaller deal aiming to avert disaster.
Analysts say sliding over the "cliff" could tip the US into recession and set back the global economic recovery.Analysts say sliding over the "cliff" could tip the US into recession and set back the global economic recovery.
President Obama cut short his holiday in Hawaii to resume the negotiations, and is due to host the White House talks at 15:00 EST (20:00 GMT).President Obama cut short his holiday in Hawaii to resume the negotiations, and is due to host the White House talks at 15:00 EST (20:00 GMT).
Congressional divisions New optimism?
Analysts say the two political parties remain far apart, particularly over plans to increase taxes on the wealthiest Americans. Reports ahead of the meeting suggested the president would propose a limited package including the renewal of most expiring tax cuts, and a delay or replacement of some spending cuts.
The priority for Mr Obama is retaining tax cuts for households earning less than $400,000 (£250,000) - an increase from his initial threshold of $250,000 - while raising taxes for the richest 2% of Americans in order to rein in deficit spending. Unconfirmed details of the plan were accompanied by newly upbeat rhetoric from some senators.
Republican congressmen feel they were re-elected with a mandate to block new taxes, and are holding out for a full renewal of the Bush-era tax cuts for all earners. "I'm getting a little more optimistic today. Sometimes it's darkest before the dawn and there are two good signs for optimism today," senior Democrat Chuck Schumer told NBC's Today show.
Speaker John Boehner has said he would accept new tax revenue through the closure of loopholes and changes to pre-tax deductions. Republican Jon Kyl told Bloomberg News: "Everybody recognises we're either going to get something in the next few hours or not. There's no more posturing time left."
Republicans are also demanding cuts to what they see as deficit-inflating public spending, putting at risk healthcare and welfare benefit schemes popular with Democrats. Mr Obama's plans to increase taxes on the wealthiest Americans have remained a point of division between the two parties since he won re-election in November.
But party divisions and procedural hurdles in the Republican-controlled House and Democratic-led Senate threaten to scupper any hopes of a compromise deal. The president was tax cuts renewed for those earning under $400,000 (£250,000), with tax rises on the richest 2% in order to rein in deficit spending.
An alternative plan proposed by Republican Speaker John Boehner - which would have seen taxes rise only on those earning over $1m - failed in the House of Representatives late last week. But many Republicans oppose new taxes as a matter of principle, and are demanding cuts to what they see as deficit-inflating public spending, putting at risk healthcare and welfare benefit schemes popular with Democrats.
The BBC's Jonny Dymond in Washington says it is very difficult to see how a solution can be reached before the new year. An alternative plan proposed by House Speaker John Mr Boehner - which would have seen taxes rise only on those earning over $1m - failed in the House of Representatives late last week.
Speaking on Wednesday, the Democratic majority leader in the Senate, Harry Reid, said he thought a deal was unlikely. Later, Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell said his colleagues were unwilling to sign a "blank cheque". Speaking on Thursday, the Democratic majority leader in the Senate, Harry Reid, said he thought a deal was unlikely. Later, Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell said his colleagues were unwilling to sign a "blank cheque".
"We'll see what the president has to propose. Members on both sides of the aisle will review it, and then we'll decide how best to proceed," said Mr McConnell.
"Hopefully there is still time for an agreement of some kind that saves the taxpayers from a wholly preventable economic crisis.""Hopefully there is still time for an agreement of some kind that saves the taxpayers from a wholly preventable economic crisis."
In the Senate chamber on Thursday, Mr Reid said the requirement to get at least 60 of 100 votes to move to a vote on any legislation almost certainly doomed any new plan unless Republicans gave it strong backing.In the Senate chamber on Thursday, Mr Reid said the requirement to get at least 60 of 100 votes to move to a vote on any legislation almost certainly doomed any new plan unless Republicans gave it strong backing.
"It looks like that [the fiscal cliff] is where we're headed," Mr Reid said."It looks like that [the fiscal cliff] is where we're headed," Mr Reid said.
Mr McConnell said that while Senate Republicans would consider any proposal sent to them by Democrats, they would not "write a blank cheque" to resolve the fiscal cliff.
Cuts and benefitsCuts and benefits
The term fiscal cliff refers to the combination of almost $600bn (£370bn) of tax rises and spending cuts due to come into force on 1 January if Congress does not pass new legislation.The term fiscal cliff refers to the combination of almost $600bn (£370bn) of tax rises and spending cuts due to come into force on 1 January if Congress does not pass new legislation.
Sweeping tax cuts passed during the presidency of George W Bush will expire, eventually affecting people of all income levels, and many businesses.Sweeping tax cuts passed during the presidency of George W Bush will expire, eventually affecting people of all income levels, and many businesses.
Other tax cuts and benefits to expire include:Other tax cuts and benefits to expire include:
  • A 2010 payroll tax cut, the expiration of which would prompt immediate wage-packet cuts
  • Benefits for the long-term unemployed
  • Compensation for doctors treating patients on federal healthcare programmes
  • Inheritance taxes are also likely to be affected if no deal is reached.
  • A 2010 payroll tax cut, the expiration of which would prompt immediate wage-packet cuts
  • Benefits for the long-term unemployed
  • Compensation for doctors treating patients on federal healthcare programmes
  • Inheritance taxes are also likely to be affected if no deal is reached.
In addition, spending cuts mandated by a law passed to break a previous fiscal impasse in Congress will come into force, affecting both military and domestic budgets.In addition, spending cuts mandated by a law passed to break a previous fiscal impasse in Congress will come into force, affecting both military and domestic budgets.
The cuts are expected to affect federal government departments and the defence sector, as well as hitting unemployment insurance and veterans' support.The cuts are expected to affect federal government departments and the defence sector, as well as hitting unemployment insurance and veterans' support.