[h=3]By CAROL E. LEE And MICHAEL R. CRITTENDEN[/h]
APPresident Barack Obama waves to reporters as he steps off the Marine One helicopter and walks on the South Lawn at the White House on Thursday.
WASHINGTON—President Barack Obama telephoned congressional leaders from both parties with just a few days left to reach a deal to avoid the year-end tax increases and spending cuts known as the fiscal cliff.
Mr. Obama called House Speaker John Boehner (R., Ohio), Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R., Ky.), Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D., Nev.) and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D., Calif.) late Wednesday during his vacation in Hawaii "to receive an update on the ongoing fiscal negotiations," White House spokeswoman Amy Brundage said.
The calls come as leaders show little signs of progress toward reaching an agreement before tax increases hit almost every working American. It also marks the first time Mr. Obama has called Mr. McConnell, now seen as one of the keys to brokering a deal, to discuss the fiscal cliff. Mr. Obama and Senate leaders return to Washington Thursday.
[h=3]Related Video[/h]
APPresident Barack Obama waves to reporters as he steps off the Marine One helicopter and walks on the South Lawn at the White House on Thursday.
WASHINGTON—President Barack Obama telephoned congressional leaders from both parties with just a few days left to reach a deal to avoid the year-end tax increases and spending cuts known as the fiscal cliff.
Mr. Obama called House Speaker John Boehner (R., Ohio), Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R., Ky.), Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D., Nev.) and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D., Calif.) late Wednesday during his vacation in Hawaii "to receive an update on the ongoing fiscal negotiations," White House spokeswoman Amy Brundage said.
The calls come as leaders show little signs of progress toward reaching an agreement before tax increases hit almost every working American. It also marks the first time Mr. Obama has called Mr. McConnell, now seen as one of the keys to brokering a deal, to discuss the fiscal cliff. Mr. Obama and Senate leaders return to Washington Thursday.
[h=3]Related Video[/h]