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\f0\fs26 \cf0 \cb2 (Image source: {\field{\*\fldinst{HYPERLINK "http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2012/10/25/163646649/medicare-medicaid-face-uncertain-budget-futures"}}{\fldrslt
\cf3 \ul \ulc3 NPR}}) \f1\fs24 \
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\f0\b\fs26 \cf0 BY CHRISTINA HARTMAN \f1\b0\fs24 \
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\f0\fs26 \cf0 With heels dug in on both sides \'97 the White House says the ball is in Republicans\'92
court when it comes to averting the looming crisis known as the fiscal cliff.
\f1\fs24 \ \
\f0\fs26 Unless lawmakers can come together and work out a deal \'97 a series of severe,
self-imposed spending cuts will automatically kick in, hitting defense, Medicare, and jobless
benefits to name just a few. (VIDEO VIA {\field{\*\fldinst{HYPERLINK "http://www.wwmt.com/"}}{\fldrslt \cf4 WWMT}})
\f1\fs24 \ \
\f0\fs26 Not only that, but most every American will see their taxes go up on January 1st
with the expiration of the Bush-era tax cuts. \f1\fs24 \
\f0\fs26 Both sides agree the combination of spending cuts and higher taxes will be
bad news for the economy. \f1\fs24 \
\f0\fs26 But they\'92ve had more than a year to come up with something and not only are
they not there yet, but they don\'92t seem any closer.
\f1\fs24 \ \
\pard\pardeftab720 {\field{\*\fldinst{HYPERLINK "http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2012/12/boehner-counters-obama-deficit-cutting-deal-with-credible-plan/"}}{\fldrslt
\f0\b\fs26 \cf4 VIA ABC}} \f0\b\fs26 : \'93Talks to avoid the fiscal
cliff looming at the end of the month have stalled over taxes for the wealthy and cuts
to programs such as medicare.\'94 \f1\b0\fs24 \
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\f0\fs26 \cf0 The sticking points remain the same: Democrats want tax rates raised for
the highest income earners, and Republicans aren\'92t having it. The White House says
Republicans are holding middle class taxpayers hostage by refusing to budge.
\f1\fs24 \ \
\f0\fs26 As late as Sunday, Republican House Speaker John Boehner maintained, you can raise
enough revenue by eliminating deductions rather than raising rates. (VIDEO VIA {\field{\*\fldinst{HYPERLINK
"http://www.wavy.com/"}}{\fldrslt \cf4 WAVY}}) \f1\fs24 \
\ {\field{\*\fldinst{HYPERLINK "http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2012/12/02/geithner-no-deal-without-rates-going-up/"}}{\fldrslt
\f0\fs26 Which seems incompatible with}} \f0\fs26 this, from Treasury Secretary Timothy
Geithner: \f1\fs24 \
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\f0\b\fs26 \cf0 GEITHNER, {\field{\*\fldinst{HYPERLINK "http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2012/12/02/geithner-no-deal-without-rates-going-up/"}}{\fldrslt
\cf4 ON CNN\'92S \'93STATE OF THE UNION\'94}}: \'93If Republicans are not willing to let
rates go back up \'85 there will not be an agreement.\'94
\f1\b0\fs24 \ \
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\f0\fs26 \cf0 Over the weekend South Carolina Republican Senator Lindsey Graham bluntly
told CBS quote \'93I think we\'92re going over the cliff.\'94
\f1\fs24 \ \
\f0\fs26 Which, by the way, {\field{\*\fldinst{HYPERLINK "http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2012/12/john-boehner-fiscal-cliff-tea-party"}}{\fldrslt
\cf4 Mother Jones\'92 David Corn reports}} the White House is reluctantly willing to
have happen, because, \'93 \b If no deal is reached by the end of the
month, all the Bush tax cuts \'97 for the rich and not-rich \'97 will evaporate
\b0 .\'94 \f1\fs24 \
\f0\fs26 So if Republicans want to keep taxes low \'97 administration officials believe
they\'92d have the upper hand if they just waited til tax rates went up when the Bush
tax cuts expire. Then Democrats would force a vote on bringing back the lower tax rates
for everyone BUT the wealthiest Americans. Any stalemate after that point, the thinking
goes, could be blamed on Republicans. Which COULD work, {\field{\*\fldinst{HYPERLINK "http://dailycaller.com/2012/12/03/obama-willing-to-go-over-fiscal-cliff-according-to-white-house-leaks/#ixzz2E17Qr6Js"}}{\fldrslt
\cf4 except The Daily Caller\'92s Neil Munro suggests}}...
\f1\fs24 \ \
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\f0\b\fs26 \cf0 \'93But a deadlock ... would also allow the GOP to stand firm on their
opposition to any increases in tax rates, and effectively require the Democrats to cooperate
with a GOP proposal...\'94 \f1\b0\fs24 \
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\f0\fs26 \cf0 The president\'92s continuing to take his fight to the public, on Monday
answering questions {\field{\*\fldinst{HYPERLINK "https://twitter.com/whitehouse/status/275653161765699585"}}{\fldrslt
\cf4 via Twitter}} in an effort to rally support for a tax solution that would only preserve
tax rate cuts for the middle class.}