Fiscal cliff budget talks on agenda as parties clash at highest levels – Budget negotiations rile US political scene with eyes on significant budget trim

Boehner: time for Obama to act on fiscal cliff

Countdown to Fiscal Cliff: Obama Rejects Republicans’ Proposal and Obama Rejects GOP Fiscal Plan: The Christian Science Monitor (+video)

President Barack Obama has rejected a Republican proposal to avert the looming fiscal cliff. The president insists any deal must include a rise in income tax rates on the wealthiest Americans. With 27 days to go before the US economy could plunge over the so-called fiscal cliff, Republicans warned President Barack Obama on Wednesday that he must take the lead in the “critical” next 72 hours and offer a viable solution. The White House and opposition Republicans are struggling.

Governor Jack Markell met with President Obama to talk about how the fiscal cliff affects the state of Delaware. Governors urge action to avoid tumbling off fiscal cliff. They don’t have a formal seat at the “fiscal cliff” negotiating table, but for the nation’s governors, the stakes couldn’t be higher. A failure by Congress and the White House to reach a deal over spending cuts and tax increases by the end of the year would blow a hole in state budgets.

Jon Stewart summarizes GOP budget plan: Jump off the fiscal cliff voluntarily

Raw Story

On his show Tuesday night, The Daily Show host Jon Stewart noted that Republicans proposed a budget plan that was eerily familiar so-called fiscal cliff — the very thing their budget plan was supposed to avert. The fiscal cliff would reduce the federal deficit by $1.2 trillion over 10 years.

AARP Pennsylvania Volunteers Take Message to Washington: Don’t Throw Older Americans Over Economic Cliff

WASHINGTON, Dec. 5, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — AARP Pennsylvania volunteers and staff today met with members of the state’s Congressional delegation and other key members of Congress involved in the lame duck discussions to avert a so-called “fiscal cliff.”  The AARP volunteers and staff urge.