Obama poised for one last try at 'Fiscal Cliff' talks

President Barack Obama and members of Congress prepared for one last try to avert across-the-board tax increases and spending cuts known as the fiscal cliff, as the US Treasury Department warned that it will begin taking action to prevent the government from hitting its debt limit.

Obama poised for one last try at 'Fiscal Cliff' talks

President Barack Obama and members of Congress prepared for one last try to avert across-the-board tax increases and spending cuts known as the fiscal cliff, as the US Treasury Department warned that it will begin taking action to prevent the government from hitting its debt limit.

Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner said in a letter to congressional leaders that the department will use accounting measures to save approximately 200 billion US dollars.

That could keep the government from reaching the debt limit – which is embroiled in the fiscal cliff talks – for about two months.

The move comes as Mr Obama and the Republican congressional leadership resume negotiations that hit a stalemate last week over how to avoid the fast approaching fiscal cliff, which some economists warn could cause another recession after it takes effect in the new year.

Mr Obama decided to cut short his Hawaii vacation for an overnight flight expected to get him back to the White House today.

But Congressional officials said they knew of no significant strides toward a compromise over a long Christmas weekend, and no negotiations have been set.

Mr Obama has sought to include an increase in the borrowing limit in the talks. But House of Representatives Speaker John Boehner and other Republican leaders have demanded concessions in return.

The Senate is due in session today, although the immediate agenda includes other matters. The House has no plans to convene, following last week’s rebellion in which conservatives torpedoed Mr Boehner’s legislation to prevent scheduled tax increases on most, while letting them take effect on million-dollar wage earners.

Mr Obama insists that no tax cuts be extended for anyone earning over 400,000 US dollars per year.

Mr Geithner said the negotiations over tax and spending policies make it difficult to predict how long he can delay reaching the borrowing limit.

The absence of a specific timeframe may be intended to pressure Republicans to allow a debt limit increase in a potential budget deal.

For now, Treasury will take several steps to delay reaching the limit. Mr Geithner said it will stop selling Treasury securities used by state and local governments to support their own sales of tax-exempt bonds. That will keep the department from accumulating more debt.

And the department will stop investing in government retirement funds.

more courts articles

Man (25) in court charged with murdering his father and attempted murder of mother Man (25) in court charged with murdering his father and attempted murder of mother
Man appears in court charged with false imprisonment of woman in van Man appears in court charged with false imprisonment of woman in van
Man in court over alleged false imprisonment of woman Man in court over alleged false imprisonment of woman

More in this section

FILE PHOTO The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission has cleared the purchase of Goodbody Stockbrokers by AIB END Goodbody Stockbrokers fined over €1.2m by Central Bank over rules breaches
Nottingham City Centre Stock Irish staff at the Body Shop wait for wages as retailer shuts stores in the Republic
Ryanair comments on Norwegian Ryanair boss O'Leary's spat with Transport Minister over Dublin Airport escalates
IE logo
Devices


UNLIMITED ACCESS TO THE IRISH EXAMINER FOR TEAMS AND ORGANISATIONS
FIND OUT MORE

The Business Hub
Newsletter

News and analysis on business, money and jobs from Munster and beyond by our expert team of business writers.

Sign up
ie logo
Puzzles Logo

Play digital puzzles like crosswords, sudoku and a variety of word games including the popular Word Wheel

Lunchtime News
Newsletter

Keep up with the stories of the day with our lunchtime news wrap.

Sign up
Cookie Policy Privacy Policy Brand Safety FAQ Help Contact Us Terms and Conditions

© Examiner Echo Group Limited