Former Sen. Alan Simpson (R-Wyo.) predicted Sunday that tax rates for the wealthy will likely go up next year. 
 
 Speaking on CBS’s “Face the Nation,” Simpson, a co-chairman of the Simpson-Bowles deficit commission, said he and Erskine Bowles, a former Clinton White House chief of staff and the panel’s other co-chairman, believe taxes will go up for the rich. 
 
 “I think Erskine and I both agree that if anybody out there who is, quote, rich doesn’t think their taxes go up, the drinks are on me, I’ll cover it,” Simpson said. 
 
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 Bowles, however, noted that raising taxes on the wealthy wouldn’t be enough to bring down the nation’s deficit. 
 
 “Even if you raise the top rates back to the Clinton rates, that only creates $400 billion over 10 years. That’s $40 billion a year. We got a trillion-dollar-a-year deficit. That alone won’t solve the problem,” Bowles said. 
 
 Bowles said spending cuts must be made in order to bring down the debt. 
 
 “We have to slow the rate of growth of healthcare to the rate of growth of the economy,” Bowles said. 
 
 The deficit hawks are both worried over the impact from going over the “fiscal cliff” — a set of massive tax increases and budget cuts that will go into effect early next year unless Congress acts. Bowles said going over the cliff entails possible layoffs, estimating 2 million people could lose their jobs and the unemployment rate could climb to 9 percent. 
 
 “I think this would be a disaster to go over the cliff,” Bowles said. 
 
 Simpson lambasted lawmakers in both parties who argue going over the fiscal cliff would be politically advantageous for their respective parties. 
 
 “There’s something terribly bizarre and juvenile about that. To think your party comes ahead of your country, I don’t go for that at all,” Simpson said. 
 
 Bowles remains optimistic about a deal getting done, however. 
 
 “I’m a little more encouraged than if you would have asked me about it a week ago,” Bowles said. “They have started to tango now and any time you got two guys in there tangoing, you got a chance to get it done.” ||||| One of the namesakes of America's best-known debt-cutting plan, former White House chief of staff Erskine Bowles, said Sunday he sees signs of progress towards a deal to avert the so-called fiscal cliff the nation faces at the end of the year. 
 
 "I'm a little more encouraged than I would have been if you'd asked me about it a week ago," Bowles said on CBS's "Face The Nation. "I think we've made some progress [last] week." 
 
 "They've started to tango there and any time you've got two guys in there tangoing you've got a chance to get it done," Bowles said, referring to President Barack Obama and House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio). 
 
 Bowles, who co-chaired a deficit reduction commission with former Sen. Alan Simpson (R-Wyo.), credited both the president and the speaker with helping to lay groundwork for a possible deal to stop the tax hikes and spending cuts set to kick in at the end of the month. 
 
 Bowles said Obama has insisted on higher tax rates for the wealthy, but has also indicated a willingness to consider entitlement costs. 
 
 Bowles also praised Boehner for not including potential deal breakers in his recent proposal. 
 
 "I think this is a speaker who really gets it," Bowles said. "If you look at the offer he made last week, that offer doesn't mention a thing about block granting Medicaid. It doesn't have a word about premium supports. It doesn't have anything in there about those deep cuts in income support programs. So, I think that advances the ball." 
 
 Read more about: Barack Obama, John Boehner, Taxes, Deficit, Debt, Bowles Simpson Deficit Commission, Erskine Bowles, Fiscal Cliff ||||| European Pressphoto Agency President Barack Obama softened his push for a return to Clinton-era tax rates. 
 
 WASHINGTON—President Barack Obama signaled he wouldn't insist tax rates on upper-income Americans rise to Clinton-era peaks as part of a deficit-reduction deal, showing new flexibility as he tries to accelerate talks with congressional Republicans. 
 
 The new clarity of the White House position marks a potentially important moment in Washington's effort to figure out how to handle tax rates that are due to snap higher next year, one of the thorniest elements of the so-called fiscal cliff. 
 
 Senate Minority Whip Jon Kyl on The News Hub weighs in what it's going to take to reach a deal to avoid the fiscal cliff and why he disagrees with President Obama's strategy to avoid middle class tax hikes. Photo: Getty Images. 
 
 A crack in GOP unity on taxes broke Tuesday when a senior House Republican, Tom Cole of Oklahoma, privately urged his colleagues to accede to the White House's demand they pass an extension of current tax rates just for income up to $250,000. Rep. Cole joins Lunch Break to discuss his position. 
 
 President Obama warns that middle class Americans would see their taxes go up if Congress fails to act to extend the middle class tax cuts. Photo: Associated Press. 
 
 Some Republicans saw it as a hopeful sign that could lead to a compromise. Though GOP leaders remain opposed to raising top rates and want more details on potential entitlement cuts, the White House move opens a range of possibilities for negotiators. 
 
 The debate among Democrats and Republicans over how to avert $500 billion in spending cuts and tax increases has left stock-market investors reacting to each profession of optimism and pessimism from officials. 
 
 Enlarge Image Close ASSOCIATED PRESS Erskine Bowles, former co-chairman of the National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform, in 2011. 
 
 Enlarge Image Close Associated Press Rep. Tom Cole of Oklahoma. 
 
 Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner, the White House's lead negotiator in the budget talks, will travel to Capitol Hill Thursday to meet with House Speaker John Boehner (R., Ohio) and other leaders. Policy makers have a month to resolve their differences before the tax increases and spending cuts begin. Mr. Obama said Wednesday he wants a deal by Christmas. 
 
 "I am ready and able and willing and excited to go ahead and get this issue resolved in a bipartisan fashion so that American families, American businesses have some certainty going into next year," he said. "And if we get this wrong, the economy is going to go south." 
 
 Democratic and Republican aides have a good sense of what concessions they are willing to offer, but neither wants to go first for fear of losing leverage. Republicans have said they won't negotiate on taxes until the White House steps forward with concrete ideas for addressing entitlement spending. 
 
 "If they are willing to say 'we're not going to chase party dogma,' House Republicans can do a very good job at finding revenues," said Rep. Pete Roskam (R., Ill.), House Republicans' chief deputy whip. "Members are willing to work to get to yes, but they not willing to get to foolish." 
 
 The White House has said it wants tax rates on household income above $250,000 to rise, with the other rates holding pat. A full return to Clinton-era rates would have households paying a 36% rate on income earned between $250,000 and $388,000, compared with 33% today, and 39.6% rate on income above that level, up from 35%. 
 
 The White House's flexibility, first described by Democrat Erskine Bowles after meetings with Mr. Obama and others, and confirmed by administration officials, could envision tax rates increase from their current levels but less than Clinton-era levels. 
 
 Falling Over the Fiscal Cliff See some scenarios for how different groups of people may be affected by the tax changes that will take place if the fiscal cliff isn't resolved by the Jan. 1., 2013, deadline. View Interactive More photos and interactive graphics 
 
 The trade-off, Mr. Bowles said, would be limits or curbs in tax deductions, which GOP leaders have expressed openness to. 
 
 Asked Wednesday if the top rates need to go to 39.6%, White House press secretary Jay Carney said, "I'm not going to negotiate every detail" of a plan. He said Mr. Obama views returning rates to the Clinton-era levels as "the sensible, clean, simple way" to achieve his target of an additional $1.6 trillion in revenue over 10 years, but that the president is open to other ideas. 
 
 Retreating from the Clinton-era levels opens up a number of new possibilities. Negotiators could pursue having tax rates rise on upper-income Americans to 37% or 38% instead of 39.6%. That could be coupled with new limits on the tax breaks for those households, something GOP leaders say they would oppose. 
 
 Another option would be to leave rates unchanged but lower the income thresholds for when higher rates kick in, which Democrats would dislike. 
 
 A wild card would be wrapping in a longer-term revamp of the entire tax code, which could lower rates for everyone. 
 
 The White House has previously said its $1.6 trillion, 10-year deficit-reduction proposal included roughly $1 trillion from the expiration of some Bush-era tax cuts, including rates for upper-income taxpayers, investment taxes and estate taxes, plus another $600 billion from tactics such as limits on tax deductions. 
 
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 Last August, President Obama and Congress put the U.S. economy on course to go over a "fiscal cliff." WSJ's David Wessel tells you everything you need to know about the "cliff" but were afraid to ask. 
 
 Many House Republicans have said they would not accept any deal that allows tax rates to rise on households earning more than $250,000, and they have suggested they could raise tax revenue instead by eliminating certain tax breaks and deductions. 
 
 There have been signs in recent days that their caucus is beginning to waver. Rep. Tom Cole (R., Okla.) on Tuesday told leaders they should accept the White House's demands on the tax rates so they could shift the focus to spending cuts and regain the leverage. 
 
 Rep. Mike Simpson (R., Idaho) said in an interview Wednesday many Republicans would likely accept a deal that raised tax rates on households earning more than $500,000 or $1 million if Democrats offered to back substantial entitlement cuts. 
 
 Mr. Boehner and other Republican leaders are standing firm on rates, even under the new scenario the White House is willing to accept. At his meeting with Mr. Geithner on Thursday, Mr. Boehner will be joined by his party's top tax writer, House Ways and Means Committee Chairman David Camp (R., Mich.), and House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan (R., Wis.), a party leader whose blessing is considered necessary before many Republicans will agree to any deal. 
 
 The debate over how to handle the Bush-era tax rates has consumed much of Washington's focus in the past two weeks, even though there are a number of other pieces of the so-called "fiscal cliff" that continue to divide policy makers. 
 
 Top corporate executives leaving a meeting at the White House Wednesday said they were optimistic the Obama administration and congressional Republicans would pursue a compromise, even though time to negotiate was running short. 
 
 Enlarge Image Close European Pressphoto Agency Speaker John Boehner stood firm opposing higher rates. 
 
 "There was a real sense of optimism that the leadership and the president appeared to be focused on making a resolution that, if it happens, could help unleash even more growth and job creation than perhaps anyone has previously expected," said Comcast Corp. Chief Executive Brian Roberts in an interview. 
 
 The CEOs used the time to both talk about their companies and to push for certain policies they believe would help their businesses. A number of the executives Wednesday called for Mr. Obama to lower corporate tax rates to help make their businesses more competitive with companies overseas. Some told Mr. Obama they would move fewer jobs offshore with a more competitive corporate tax structure, but they seemed willing to accept the White House's demand that individual income-tax rates for higher earners would rise. 
 
 Separately, a spat between Democrats over what to do with estate tax rates grew more complicated Wednesday when Sen. Mary Landrieu (D., La.) joined Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D., Mont.) in saying she wouldn't support the White House proposal to levy a 45% tax on remaining assets after the first $3.5 million is transferred to heirs. 
 
 Ms. Landrieu wants estate-tax rates to remain at 35%, with the tax taking effect after the first $10 million is transferred, and she described the issue as "make or break for me." Currently, the estate tax applies only to estates worth at least $5.12 million. 
 
 —Janet Hook, Michael R. Crittenden and Siobhan Hughes contributed to this article. 
 
 Write to Damian Paletta at damian.paletta@wsj.com, Corey Boles at corey.boles@dowjones.com and Janet Hook at janet.hook@wsj.com 
 
 A version of this article appeared November 29, 2012, on page A1 in the U.S. edition of The Wall Street Journal, with the headline: Obama Is Flexible On Highest Tax Rates. ||||| President Obama called on Congress on Friday to reduce the deficit in “a balanced and responsible way” in his first public remarks since winning reelection. 
 
 The president said Congress should extend the current tax rates for 98 percent of Americans, but raise taxes on households with annual income of more than $250,000. 
 
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 Obama did not talk about higher tax rates in his speech, but said he would not accept a deal that cut spending and entitlements but did not ask wealthier households to pay more taxes. 
 
 “If we’re serious about reducing the deficit, we have to combine spending cuts with revenue and that means asking the wealthiest Americans to pay a little more in taxes,” Obama said. “That’s how we did it in the 1990s when Bill Clinton William (Bill) Jefferson ClintonPartisan squabbles degrade public servants — at America’s risk Six GOP senators vote to end shutdown without wall funding Building walls to keep out migraines MORE was president, that’s how we can reduce the deficit while still making the investments we need to build a strong middle class and a strong economy.” 
 
 Obama invited lawmakers to the White House next week to begin discussing how to “build consensus on the challenges that we can only solve together.” 
 
 He also said he was pleased that Speaker John Boehner John Andrew BoehnerMomentum for earmarks grows with Dem majority Cannabis company says CBS refused to run its Super Bowl ad advocating for medical marijuana Breaking the impasse on shutdown, border security MORE (R-Ohio) this week said additional tax revenue would be a part of a deficit-cutting deal. 
 
 "I was encouraged to hear Speaker Boehner John Andrew BoehnerMomentum for earmarks grows with Dem majority Cannabis company says CBS refused to run its Super Bowl ad advocating for medical marijuana Breaking the impasse on shutdown, border security MORE agree that tax revenue has to be part of this equation, so I look forward to hearing his ideas when I see him next week," he said. 
 
 In a press conference that concluded about an hour before Obama spoke, Boehner said it was up to the president to lead on the "fiscal cliff" of spending cuts and tax hikes set to be implemented in January. 
 
 “This is an opportunity for the president to lead,” Boehner said. “This is his moment to engage the Congress and work toward a solution that can pass both chambers.” 
 
 Neither Boehner nor Obama offered any details Friday on what higher taxes might be acceptable as part of a deal. 
 
 Both have talked about raising tax revenue without raising rates, but it is unclear whether this would forbid higher tax rates on investment income such as capital gains and dividends, or on the estate tax. 
 
 In both the substance of their comments and their tone, however, Obama and Boehner have suggested it is possible the two sides could reach a deal in the lame-duck session set to begin next week. 
 
 Republican officials believe Obama and senior Democrats have left enough room to find a deal that meets the president's demand to force wealthy Americans to pay more in taxes while not increasing the top marginal income tax rates. 
 
 In particular, they were encouraged by comments Friday morning by Sen. Charles Schumer Charles (Chuck) Ellis SchumerLou Dobbs slams Trump's move to end shutdown: 'Illegal immigrants are surely pleased’ A law enforcement solution to security on the Southern border Senators pitch three-week stopgap bill to resolve shutdown fight MORE (D-N.Y.), the third-ranking Senate Democrat, who said the party could accept a top marginal rate of 35 percent if tax deductions for the wealthy were reduced. Before the election, Schumer had ruled out tax reform that did not increase income rate for the top earners. 
 
 Bush-era individual tax rates as well as current tax rates on capital gains and dividends are set to expire at the end of the year. So are a host of tax credits and a payroll tax cut ushered in two years ago. The estate tax would also increase. 
 
 Boehner repeated his longstanding opposition to increasing tax rates at Friday's press conference. But when asked to provide details, Boehner kept his cards close to his vest. 
 
 “I would really rather not do that because I don’t want to limit the options that would be available to me or the options that might be available to the White House,” Boehner said in a press conference at the Capitol. “There are a lot of ways to get there, and I don’t want to preclude anyone who might have a good idea of how we move forward.” 
 
 More from The Hill: 
 
 • Boehner: Obama has 'opportunity to lead' negotiations on fiscal cliff 
 
 • Speaker faces conservative backlash over call for immigration reform 
 
 • Conservatives press the states to keep fighting ‘ObamaCare’ 
 
 • McConnell: GOP not budging on tax rates 
 
 
 
 Boehner has called for tax reform that would involve lowering rates while eliminating tax deductions. He suggested this week that this could lead to higher tax revenue for the government, meaning at least some people or businesses would pay higher taxes. 
 
 Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid Harry Mason ReidUFOs were not the only thing that the Advanced Aerospace Threat Identification program was studying Warren to propose 'wealth tax' on those with more than M in assets Overnight Health Care: Trump calls for crackdown on surprise medical bills | Trump officials give religious exemption to foster care program | Uninsured rate at highest level since 2014 | Juul hires former Harry Reid chief of staff MORE (D-Nev.) called on the House to immediately pass a Senate bill extending current tax rates for those with annual income below $250,000. 
 
 "Our bill cuts taxes for small businesses. When Republicans talk about small businesses, they are really trying to protect millionaires like Donald Trump Donald John TrumpStone: 'I’ve never had any discussion' with Trump about a pardon White House: Trump will move forward on wall 'with or without' Dems Pelosi after Stone indictment: 'What does Putin have on the president'? MORE," Reid said. “It is time for us to put politics aside and give the American people the balanced approach they are demanding. I am optimistic that we can meet this challenge before the end of the year.” 
 
 Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell Addison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnellOn The Money: Trump agrees to end shutdown without wall funding | Senate quickly clears short-term funding measure | House to vote tonight | Federal workers could get back pay within days | Dems take victory lap Shutdown ends without funding for Trump’s border wall Senate expected to pass bill to end shutdown on Friday MORE (R-Ky.) in a statement reiterated his opposition to any tax rate increases. 
 
 “I was glad to hear the president’s focus on jobs and growth and his call for consensus," McConnell said. "But there is no consensus on raising tax rates, which would undermine the jobs and growth we all believe are important to our economy." 
 
 In a statement after Obama's remarks, Boehner didn't directly criticize the president but reiterated that the Senate-passed bill on middle class tax rates would "allow" tax increases that he said would "destroy jobs." The legislation does not address the upper-income rates, but Republicans have long opposed decoupling the income brackets under the assumption they would lose all leverage on the top rates if they locked in tax cuts for the middle class separately. 
 
 The Speaker is likely to come under pressure from members of his conference not to give in on any tax hikes. Lawmakers return to Washington next week to begin a lame-duck session. 
 
 
 
 
 
 On Friday, however, Boehner received a statement of support Friday from Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), the outgoing chairman of the conservative Republican Study Committee. 
 
 "Speaker Boehner is absolutely right. It’s time for President Obama to show he can lead," Jordan said. He called on Obama to submit a specific proposal in the form of legislation to Congress. As leader of the large bloc of conservatives, Jordan has frequently opposed deals Boehner has struck with the White House 
 
 Obama said Americans voted “for action and not politics as usual” and he vowed to work with both parties to achieve that goal. 
 
 
 
 
 
 “At a time when our economy is still recovering from the great recession, our top priority has to be jobs and growth,” Obama said in the East Room of the White House. “That’s the focus of the plan that I talked about during the campaign.” 
 
 While he reiterated his intention to work with members of both parties, Obama said, “we can’t just cut our way to prosperity.” 
 
 He did not talk about having a mandate, but said Tuesday’s election results show the “majority of Americans agree with my approach.” 
 
 Obama highlighted his own plan to reduce the deficit, but said he was willing to negotiate, saying he is not “wedded to every detail” of his plan. 
 
 “I’m open to compromise,” he said. “I’m open to new ideas. I’m committed to solving our fiscal challenges. But I refuse to except any approach that isn’t balanced.” 
 
 But Obama warned that if Congress fails to come to an agreement on an overall deficit package by the end of the year, everybody's taxes would automatically go up at the start of the new year. 
 
 "And that makes no sense," he said. "It would be bad for the economy and would hit families that are already struggling to make ends meet ... We shouldn't need long negotiations and drama to solve that part of the problem." 
 
 This story was posted at 1:39 and updated at 3:51 p.m. ||||| Republicans may need to concede the current tax fight to President Barack Obama, who holds the "upper hand" in that battle, Sen. Bob Corker said Sunday. 
 
 "There is a growing group of folks looking at this and realizing that we don’t have a lot of cards as it relates to the tax issue," the Tennessee Republican told "Fox News Sunday." "I think [that notion] has merit....I actually am beginning to believe that is the best route for us to take." 
 
 Corker said ceding to Obama and preserving current tax rates for 98 percent of Americans while allowing rates to rise to Clinton-era levels on the top 2 percent would allow Republicans to pick up the fight over spending and entitlements next year. 
 
 Corker also said the GOP will have move leverage in the spending and entitlements debate next year because it can use the threat of not raising the debt ceiling to craft a favorable deal with Obama. 
 
 "There's a growing body of folks who are willing to look at the rate on the top 2 percent," Corker. "The shift in focus in entitlements is where we need to go.....Republicans know they have the debt ceiling that's coming up around the corner and the leverage is going to shift as soon as we get beyond this issue—the leverage is going to shift to our side." 
 
 Read more about: Barack Obama, Taxes, Fox News Sunday, Debt, Bob Corker, Spending, Fiscal Cliff ||||| 6 years ago 
 
 (CNN) - With bipartisan support, the House approved the fiscal cliff bill late Tuesday night after Republican leaders ultimately decided not to try and tack on an amendment to the Senate version of the legislation, which passed in the upper chamber around 2 a.m. ET Tuesday morning. 
 
 The package (PDF) puts off budget cuts for two months and preserves Bush-era income tax cuts for individuals earning less than $400,000 or couples earning less than $450,000. 
 
 Shortly after the House approved the bill, President Barack Obama delivered a statement at the White House, saying he will sign the legislation. Check back here for the latest updates. 
 
 12:06 a.m. ET - Air Force One left for Hawaii with the president on board. 
 
 11:30 p.m. ET - Obama will depart the White House late Tuesday, the White House announced, to resume his vacation in Hawaii. He left his family on the island last week, putting his vacation on hold and returning to Washington to deal with the fiscal cliff negotiations. 
 
 11:26 p.m. ET - Obama said the government still needs to take a balanced approach on reducing the deficit. 
 
 "The one thing that I think hopefully in the new year we'll focus on is seeing if we can put a package like this together with a little bit less drama, a little bit less brinksmanship, not scare the heck out of folks quite as much. We can come together as Democrats and Republicans to cut spending and raise revenue in a way that reduces our deficit, protects the middle class and provides ladders into the middle class for everybody who is willing to work hard," he said. 
 
 11:24 p.m. ET - “While I will negotiate over many things, I will not have another debate with this Congress over whether or not they should pay the bills that they've already racked up through the laws that they passed,” Obama said, referring to the upcoming debt ceiling debate. 
 
 11:21 p.m. ET - "I will sign a law that raises taxes on the wealthiest 2% of Americans while preventing a middle class tax hike that could have sent the economy back into recession and obviously had a severe impact on families all across America," Obama said. 
 
 11:20 p.m. ET - In the White House Press Briefing Room, President Barack Obama said the central premise of his campaign for president was to change the tax code that was "too skewed towards the wealthy at the expense of middle class Americans." 
 
 "Tonight we have done that," he added, thanking the leaders of the House and Senate. He also thanked Vice President Joe Biden, a chief negotiator in the talks. 
 
 11:19 p.m. ET - Erskine Bowles and Alan Simpson, the bi-partisan co-chairs of Obama’s deficit reduction commission, said in a statement after the vote that the deal “is truly a missed opportunity to do something big to reduce our long term fiscal problems, but it is a small step forward in our efforts to reduce the federal deficit.” 
 
 “Washington missed this magic moment to do something big to reduce the deficit, reform our tax code, and fix our entitlement programs,” the said. “We have all known for over a year that this fiscal cliff was coming. In fact Washington politicians set it up to force themselves to seriously deal with our Nation's long term fiscal problems. Yet even after taking the country to the brink of economic disaster, Washington still could not forge a common sense bipartisan consensus on a plan that stabilizes the debt.” 
 
 After the commission submitted a report which was received coolly by the president, who did not work to turn its recommendations into law, the two founded the group Fix the Debt. Among other things, the group released a web video in which Simpson performed the “Gangnam style” dance. 
 
 11:16 p.m. ET - Calling the deal a "disaster," the national coordinator of Tea Party Patriots lambasted lawmakers for passing the fiscal cliff bill. 
 
 "Politicians from both parties have an addiction to overspending and they must face it now-not at midnight the day before another so-called “deadline” approaches. We will continue to stand up for fiscal responsibility – even if we are the last ones standing," Jenny Beth Martin said in a statement. 
 
 11:12 p.m. ET - From CNN's Dan Merica: Rep. Paul Ryan, the House Budget Committee chairman who voted yes on the fiscal cliff deal, told reporters he cast his vote because, "If you want a bill to pass, you should vote for it." 
 
 Why did you want it to pass, he was asked. "I am not afraid of anything, I think it needed to pass." 
 
 Because? "Because it needed to pass. I wanted to stop a big tax increase," he said. 
 
 11:08 p.m. ET – House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan, the 2012 GOP vice presidential candidate, voted for the fiscal cliff deal, as did House Speaker John Boehner. The No. 2 ranking Republican in the House, Majority Leader Eric Cantor, third-ranking Republican in the House, GOP Whip Kevin McCarthy, both voted against it. 
 
 11:04 p.m. ET - The White House announced President Barack Obama will deliver a statement at 11:20 p.m. ET. 
 
 POTUS to make on cam statement tonight in the biriefing room at WH after House passed bill to avert fiscal cliff — 
 
 Lesa Jansen (@lesajansencnn) January 02, 2013 
 
 10:57 p.m. ET - The U.S. House of Representatives approves fiscal cliff deal, surpassing the 217 votes needed for passage. The final breakdown is 257 in support and 167 in opposition. 
 
 
 
 
 
 10:50 p.m. ET 
 
 
 
 The Bush tax cuts lapsed at midnight last night. Every R voting for Senate bill is cutting taxes and keeping his/her pledge. — 
 
 Grover Norquist (@GroverNorquist) January 02, 2013 
 
 10:49 p.m. ET - Republican Rep. Tim Huelskamp of Kansas says he will vote "no" on the bill. 
 
 
 
 Headed to the floor. Will vote no. It's time for solutions, not another last-minute deal that increases taxes, spending. — 
 
 Cong. Tim Huelskamp (@CongHuelskamp) January 02, 2013 
 
 10:48 p.m. ET - Republican Rep. Jason Chaffetz of Utah says he voted against the bill. 
 
 
 
 Just voted NO — 
 
 Jason Chaffetz (@jasoninthehouse) January 02, 2013 
 
 10:47 p.m. ET - Breaking tradition, House Speaker John Boehner voted on the bill. 
 
 
 
 Boehner votes aye for #fiscalcliff deal. — 
 
 Dan Merica (@danmericaCNN) January 02, 2013 
 
 Interesting that @SpeakerBoehner chose to vote at all, since Speakers usually don't vote. Voting YES says Boehner-the-legislator still there — 
 
 Dana Bash (@DanaBashCNN) January 02, 2013 
 
 10:41 p.m. ET - House now begins a 15-minute vote on final passage of fiscal cliff deal. 
 
 10:38 p.m. ET - Republican Rep. Dave Camp says the permanent extension of the Bush-era tax cuts for households making less than $450,000 is "the largest tax cut in the history of the country." 
 
 10:29 p.m. ET 
 
 
 
 We're getting close - Hoyer closing for Ds, Camp said he's wrapping for Rs, then VOTE — 
 
 Deirdre Walsh (@deirdrewalshcnn) January 02, 2013 
 
 10:27 p.m. ET - House Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer on the House floor said the bill isn't perfect–"I severely regret that this is not a big, bold and balanced plan"–but urged its passage, nonetheless. 
 
 "Compromise is not the art of perfection. By its very definition, comprise contains elements that neither side likes. But it also contains pieces both sides can embrace," he said. 
 
 10:19 p.m. ET 
 
 House Armed Services Chair Buck McKeon, major critic of impact of sequester, says he supports fiscal deal w/"important reservations" — 
 
 Deirdre Walsh (@deirdrewalshcnn) January 02, 2013 
 
 10:16 p.m. ET - Democratic Rep. Allyson Schwartz of Pennsylvania praised the bill in the House floor debate. 
 
 "As we close out this Congress, we've reached resolution on a major issue facing this Congress and our nation: fair tax policy for our families and our businesses. There's more work to do and in the next Congress, my guess is that it will be just as difficult to reach bipartisan solutions." 
 
 10:14 p.m. ET - Rep. Bill Pascrell, D-New Jersey, reminds the House that the body has not acted on the measure to provide relief to the victims of Superstorm Sandy. “If you want to get into nickels and dimes, then let’s get into nickels and dimes,” he said. “We’ve done our share and we’ll continue to do it. We want everyone to step up to the plate.” 
 
 The Senate passed a $60.4 billion relief package for the states, including New Jersey, impacted by the late October storm last week. If the House does not act before Thursday, the measure would need to be brought through the Senate again in the new Congress. 
 
 10:12 p.m. ET - Democratic Rep. Charlie Rangel says it is not a profile in courage to vote for the fiscal cliff measure. “We’re the ones who created this mess,” he said. “How can you go home and tell the people that this is what you’ve created?” 
 
 The sequester portion of the fiscal cliff – the across-the-board spending cuts – was a creation of Congress and spelled out in the 2011 Budget Control Act. 
 
 10:07 p.m. ET - On the House floor, Republican Rep. Louie Gohmert of Texas thanks Democrats for "finally recognizing that 98% of Americans were helped by the Bush tax cuts." The fiscal cliff bill will extend the Bush-era tax breaks for households making under $450,000 per year and individuals making under $400,000 per year. 
 
 10:05 p.m. ET 
 
 
 
 Latest estimate on the House vote is in the 10:30 - 10:45pm ET range — 
 
 Steve Brusk (@stevebruskCNN) January 02, 2013 
 
 10:03 p.m. ET - House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi urges her colleagues to pass the bill with bipartisan support and vote "aye." 
 
 10:02 p.m. ET - From CNN's Dan Merica: A confident Rep. Steve Israel reflected on the Democrats' caucus with Vice President Joe Biden earlier in the day, stating that Biden swayed wavering Democrats and put the legislation "over the top." 
 
 "He was able to answer point by point these criticisms. I think he put this over the top. At the end of the day, Vice President Biden put this over the top by convincing Democrats that we needed to display some compromise and some solutions." 
 
 9:59 p.m. ET 
 
 
 
 House debate moving along - vote now looking before 11pm — 
 
 Deirdre Walsh (@deirdrewalshcnn) January 02, 2013 
 
 9:54 p.m. ET - Republican Rep. Darrell Issa of California says he "cannot bring himself" to vote for the legislation, saying it lacks enough spending cuts. 
 
 "Because of what we're not doing, I cannot believe that this tax cut will be followed with the spending cuts" necessary to pay down the deficit, he said. 
 
 9:50 p.m. ET - Democratic Rep. Sandy Levin of Michigan, ranking member of House Ways and Means Committee, says the fiscal cliff legislation "breaks the iron barrier that has far too long" protected wealthy Americans from higher tax rates. 
 
 "I urge its passage. This bill sets the important precedent in terms of additional revenue," he said. "The time is urgent, the time is now. We support this legislation." 
 
 9:46 p.m. ET - Republican Rep. Dave Camp of Michigan, chairman of House Ways and Means Committee, opens up hour-long debate on the Senate bill. 
 
 9:40 p.m. ET - House votes by a wide margin on rule to move to fiscal cliff bill. Final vote count: 396 in favor, 9 opposed. Next they’ll hold debate on the bill itself then vote on its passage. 
 
 9:34 p.m. ET - Were he in Congress, Grover Norquist says he would be voting with President Barack Obama and Democratic National Committee Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Shultz. The keeper of the anti-tax pledge explains why. His assessment of the bill frees Republicans to vote for the measure without concern that his group, Americans for Tax Reform, will invest in their defeat next election. 
 
 9:30 p.m. ET - Democratic Rep. Steve Israel on CNN: "This day has been like a New Year's Day, television marathon of the Congress of chronic chaos with roller coasters and twists and turns and fancy footwork and high drama. It's unnecessary. The American people deserve compromise. They deserve pragmatism." 
 
 While he disagrees with parts of the bill, Israel said he plans on voting in favor of the legislation. 
 
 9:25 p.m. ET - Republican Rep. Steve Southerland of Florida says he plans to vote against the clean Senate bill. 
 
 
 
 Later tonight I'm voting NO on fiscal cliff compromise. Raising taxes while doing nothing to address spending makes a bad situation worse. — 
 
 Steve Southerland (@Rep_Southerland) January 02, 2013 
 
 9:19 p.m. ET - The House is now voting on rule for the fiscal cliff deal, then will start general debate. 
 
 
 
 house voting now on RULE for fiscal cliff - then we actually start one hour of general debate — 
 
 Deirdre Walsh (@deirdrewalshcnn) January 02, 2013 
 
 9:13 p.m. ET - Rep David Schweikert , R-Arizona, explains he will vote against the Senate-passed deal because of the spending included in it. The measure includes an extension of unemployment benefits, among other spending. He also referenced the Congressional Budget Office analysis of the deal, which was released this afternoon. 
 
 Think this #fiscalcliff "deal" is "balanced approach?" Hint: its not. its MORE SPENDING. I just talked to CNN about it bit.ly/ZSUzFJ — 
 
 Rep David Schweikert (@RepDavid) January 02, 2013 
 
 8:56 p.m ET - Republican aides say a final vote on the bill in the House will happen roughly between 11:15 p.m. and 11:45 p.m. ET. 
 
 
 
 Now GOP aides are indicating final vote on Senate fiscal cliff bill closer to 11:15-11:45pm — 
 
 Deirdre Walsh (@deirdrewalshcnn) January 02, 2013 
 
 8:55 p.m. ET - Democratic Rep. Louise Slaughter, ranking member of the House Rules Committee, said the fiscal cliff deal is "no great victory" and "only a partial answer" that sets the nation up for "another fiscal showdown" in months. 
 
 However, she said it helps the country avoid "the worst of the fiscal cliff." 
 
 "This legislation is far from perfect and the process that has led us here was an utter disgrace, yet in this time and crisis we must act first and foremost to protect the economy," she said. 
 
 8:46 p.m.ET - Republican Rep. David Dreier, House Rules Committee Chair, on the House floor says deadlines are a "fact of life" and argues that debates running up to the last minute are hardly unprecedented. 
 
 "What we're doing tonight...will bring us back from the edge of the fiscal cliff," he said, adding that he hopes the clean bill will pass with "strong bipartisan support." 
 
 8:41 p.m. ET - House is back in session to debate rule on the Senate fiscal cliff bill. 
 
 8:37 p.m. ET - CNNMoney reports on the international markets as they open for business Wednesday while U.S. lawmakers race to complete legislation to avoid the fiscal cliff. Read more. 
 
 8:02 p.m. ET - The House will vote Tuesday night on a Senate bill - an up or down vote without amendments - to avert the fiscal cliff, a senior House GOP leadership aide told CNN Senior Congressional Correspondent Dana Bash. 
 
 This just in : house will vote on clean senate bill in 9p hour — 
 
 Dana Bash (@DanaBashCNN) January 02, 2013 
 
 
 
 7:58 p.m. ET - While CNN reports there's a growing sense that the House will take up the Senate bill without amendments, Republican Rep. David Schweikert of Arizona said he won't support the Senate bill unless the House adds a provision calling for more spending cuts. 
 
 "I'm going to vote no, I'm absolutely going to vote no," he told CNN's Ali Velshi. 
 
 Schweikert said he's disappointed in the lack of spending cuts from the Senate bill, saying it contradicts Democratic language that called for a balanced approach involving both cuts and revenue. 
 
 "Part of this actually breaks my heart because I was struggling to find a way to get to yes," he added. 
 
 While other Republican lawmakers are saying it's time to address the fiscal cliff now and tackle spending cuts later, Schweikert said he couldn't support kicking the can farther down the road. 
 
 "This is probably what 2013 looks like. We're going to have the debt ceiling, the continuing resolutions. This is what our future looks like because the issue before us is about debt and spending," he said. "This is our reality and you've just seen in what just happened tonight how hard it is to have that conversation." 
 
 7:52 p.m. ET - MORE on emerging sentiments in the House from CNN's Dana Bash, Deirdre Walsh and Ted Barrett: 
 
 After talking to multiple conservative House GOP lawmakers, it appears the sentiment is growing to simply vote up or down on the Senate bill – and not amend it. 
 
 House GOP leaders warn they are still officially gauging support among members for an amendment that would add $300 billion in spending cuts. 
 
 However the biggest concern among even conservatives who will vote against the Senate bill is that the Senate won't take up an amended bill and it would backfire. 
 
 7:36 p.m. ET - CNN's Dana Bash says there's a growing feeling on Capitol Hill that the House will hold a vote on the Senate bill without adding any amendments. Her reporting confirms what Reps. Tom Cole and Tim Murphy told CNN below. 
 
 
 
 About to report w/ @AliVelshi : sentiment emerging among house repubs that the house will just vote up or down on senate bill no amendment — 
 
 Dana Bash (@DanaBashCNN) January 02, 2013 
 
 7:35 p.m. ET - Republican Rep. Tom Cole, who's the deputy GOP whip in the House, said he expects the chamber to pass a clean version of the Senate fiscal cliff bill Tuesday night. 
 
 "I do think we're going to do the right thing tonight," Cole said on CNN, referring to holding a vote on the Senate bill without amendments. 
 
 The Oklahoma Republican said he didn't want to take the risk of sending a bill back to the Senate, only to see it die. 
 
 "Let's take the Senate deal and fight another day," he said, adding there will be more opportunities to battle for more spending cuts in the near future. "There's lots of leverage on the spending fights to come." 
 
 Cole was one of the first Republican lawmakers to call for a compromise on the tax hike provision, saying in November that Congress should pass legislation dealing with tax increases now, then address spending cuts later. 
 
 7:30 p.m. ET - Republican Rep. Tim Murphy of Pennsylvania said he's not confident GOP leaders can get the 217 votes needed to add an amendment to the Senate bill that would add $300 billion in spending cuts. 
 
 "I'm not sure those votes are going to be there," he said on CNN. 
 
 In that case, the House would take up the Senate bill tonight as it now stands. Murphy said such action would likely result in passage of the Senate bill. 
 
 7:20 p.m. ET - The House is back in recess subject to the call of chair. Republican leaders are presumably figuring out if they have the 217 votes needed to add an amendment to the Senate bill. The amendment would add another $300 billion in spending cuts. 
 
 7:02 p.m. ET - CNN's Deirdre Walsh reports the amendment Republicans would add to the fiscal cliff bill includes $300 billion in spending cuts but keeps Senate language on postponing the sequester for two months. 
 
 
 
 Better summary of house gop amendment - adds $300b in spending cuts, but doesn't touch the 2 month delay of sequester in senate deal — 
 
 Deirdre Walsh (@deirdrewalshcnn) January 02, 2013 
 
 6:49 p.m. - From CNN Senior Congressional Producer Ted Barrett on Capitol Hill: Emerging from a GOP conference meeting, the conservative Louisiana lawmaker said there is a growing "sentiment" among GOP lawmakers to allow the Senate passed-bill to be approved in the House because the consequences are too great at this point not to have a bill pass. 
 
 "I think the sentiment is that if we really tried to improve, what really is a bad bill, it probably would just frustrate many people so we may just let it go as it is," he said. 
 
 Asked what changed so quickly from the last GOP meeting just a few hours ago, he said, "it's one of those things where an idea pops up that sounds good. But then you think through and you look at all the ramifications and problems. I think for many of us we look back at the payroll tax thing that happened a year ago and see that when you see a bill pass with so many Republicans in the Senate, it would probably have a similar result." 
 
 He said he expects the bill to pass later Tuesday or Wednesday morning largely on Democratic votes. He will vote against it. 
 
 Fleming said he does not expect it to hurt Boehner politically nor threaten his speakership. 
 
 "Why should it?" he asked. "I think we're together and on the same page now more than we have been for a long time." 
 
 6:45 p.m. ET - Congressmen on both sides of the fiscal cliff weighed in on Twitter as Republicans met to discuss their next steps: Either vote for the Senate version of the bill as it now stands or attempt to add amendments and send it back to the upper chamber. 
 
 Rep Charlie Rangel, D-New York: 
 
 
 
 @SpeakerBoehner The American people need their leaders to act responsibly to avert the #FiscalCliff. No time for political games. — 
 
 Charles Rangel (@cbrangel) January 01, 2013 
 
 Rep. Paul Gosar, R-Arizona: 
 
 
 
 I cannot support the bill the US Senate sent over early this a.m. Meaningful budget cuts and spending must be addressed moving forward. — 
 
 Rep. Paul Gosar, DDS (@RepGosar) January 01, 2013 
 
 Rep. Joseph Crowley, D-New York: 
 
 
 
 House #GOP must hold an up or down vote on Senate passed #fiscalcliff deal & must hold it now. The American people deserve a vote. — 
 
 Rep. Joe Crowley (@repjoecrowley) January 01, 2013 
 
 6:37 p.m. ET - The House is now making votes on matters unrelated to the fiscal cliff. 
 
 6:36 p.m. ET - CNN Radio Congressional Correspondent Lisa Desjardins takes us into the Capitol in this podcast, detailing the sights and sounds where the dealmakers were working. 
 
 6:32 p.m. ET - "If we see an amended version on the floor, this deal is dead," Ryan Lizza, CNN Contributor and Washington correspondent for the New Yorker, said on CNN. 
 
 6:22 p.m. ET - CNN's Dana Bash reports a vote is likely to happen in the House Tuesday night. Read more about the two options they may vote on. 
 
 6:18 p.m. ET - The House is going into session in 15 minutes to vote on other measures, Republican Rep. Steve LaTourette said on CNN. They'll use that time to get a count on who would favor adding amendments to the Senate bill (217 votes are needed) or hold a vote on the bill as it now stands. 
 
 The current version of the Senate bill has a better shot of passing than a Senate bill with GOP amendments, he said. 
 
 "We've been beaten in this fight," he added, saying he would vote in favor of the Senate bill–without amendments–if it came to an up or down vote. 
 
 6:15 p.m. ET - CNN's Dana Bash reports House Speaker John Boehner presented Republican members two options in their meeting tonight, according to a Republican source. 
 
 The first would be to make an amendment to the Senate bill that would add a package of spending cuts. House GOP Whip Kevin McCarthy will do a whip check on this spending cuts amendment after the meeting. 
 
 If they can get the commitment of 218 votes on this amendment, they will bring it to the floor and send it to the Senate. The speaker and House Majority Leader Eric Cantor both cautioned members about the risk in such a strategy, the source said. They told them there is no guarantee the Senate would act on it. 
 
 If they cannot get the commitment of 218 votes tonight, they will bring up the Senate-passed measure for an up-or-down vote in the House. 
 
 6:11 p.m. ET - How did we get to the edge of the fiscal cliff in the first place? CNN's Ali Velshi explains the path that led to the situation. 
 
 6:09 p.m. ET - The White House is watching movement on Capitol Hill "very, very closely" tonight, CNN's Jessica Yellin reports on "The Situation Room." 
 
 6:08 p.m. ET - CNNMoney reports that the rich would see a much bigger tax bill under the fiscal cliff deal that passed the Senate early Tuesday morning, but even they would get some nice breaks. 
 
 Those making a million and up would pay $122,560 more in federal taxes, on average, according to new estimates by the Tax Policy Center. That means this group, which includes those bringing home many millions of dollars, would see a 5.7% drop in after-tax income. Read more. 
 
 5:53 p.m. ET - The Senate has adjourned for the night and will reconvene Wednesday at noon. 
 
 
 
 The senate goes home for the night. Back tomorrow at noon. #CNN — 
 
 Stacia Deshishku (@staciacnn) January 01, 2013 
 
 5:49 p.m. ET - House Republicans are now meeting to discuss options on the fiscal cliff bill. CNN's Jessica Yellin reported earlier on Vice President Joe Biden's efforts to rally Democrats to support the bill. Read more about the day's events 
 
 5:42 p.m. ET - CNN's Gut Check takes a look at senators who voted "no" on the last-minute bill. 
 
 
 
 Gut Check is out... Waiting on the house and a skeptical GOP, the 8 no votes and the first New Year's Day. on.cnn.com/S3JaQb — 
 
 CNN's Gut Check (@GutCheckCNN) January 01, 2013 
 
 5:31 p.m. ET - The majority of Americans believe failure to reach a solution to the fiscal cliff would be a crisis or major problem. Two in ten said crisis and 50% said major problems in the latest CNN/ORC poll, conducted December 17-18. Only 24% say it would mean minor problems and 4% say no problems will result from going off of the cliff. Sampling error is plus or minus 4% points. 
 
 5:25 p.m. ET - CNN's Dana Bash reports House Speaker John Boehner and House Majority Leader Eric Cantor are on their way to the GOP meeting. 
 
 
 
 Classic "pic says a thousand words" choreography by house gop leadership staff - boehner & cantor walked by cameras to gop meeting together — 
 
 Dana Bash (@DanaBashCNN) January 01, 2013 
 
 5:17 p.m. ET - Democratic Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz says if there's no vote in the House on Tuesday or if Republicans push to add amendments to the Senate bill, then "it means we're going over the cliff." She noted the Senate has already adjourned and the new Congress starts again on Thursday, meaning negotiations would be back at square one. 
 
 "If that's what Republicans wants, it's a little baffling," she said on CNN's "The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer." 
 
 4:49 p.m. ET - Vice President Joe Biden briefly commented on the prospects for the deal he negotiated with Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell after stopping for a sandwich. He was questioned by CNN's Lesa Jansen. 
 
 4:50 p.m. ET - From CNN's Dana Bash and Deirdre Walsh: A GOP source says all House Republicans are meeting again –at 5:15 p.m. ET. 
 
 House GOP conf mtg again at 515p on fiscal cliff — 
 
 Deirdre Walsh (@deirdrewalshcnn) January 01, 2013 
 
 4:49 p.m. ET - What happens if House Republicans amend the bill passed by the Senate? CNN's Tom Foreman explains: 
 
 4:46 p.m. ET - House GOP members expressed sharp discontent Tuesday over the Senate bill, saying the measure lacks spending cuts and adds to the federal debt. 
 
 "I know the president won his election but I also won my election," Rep. Spencer Bachus of Alabama told reporters on Capitol Hill. "If we are going to increase taxes, we need to cut spending and this package doesn't do that." 
 
 Meanwhile, Rep. John Fleming of Louisiana said the bill raises "taxes to give the president more money to spend. We think that's a bad idea." 
 
 Others discredited the Senate bill based on the chamber's late-hour voting time of 2 a.m. ET. 
 
 "I know it was way past those senators' bedtime and they were bleary eyed when they were reading it, so we are trying to fill in the gaps where they may have missed a few things," said Rep. Jack Kingston of Georgia. 
 
 4:41 p.m. ET - How will markets react to revelations the House may not vote on the Senate-passed fiscal cliff measure? We'll get the first signs tonight: 
 
 The House will NOT vote on #fiscalcliff tonight. Tokyo market opens 7pET, giving us 1st market reaction to failure to reach a deal — 
 
 Ali Velshi (@AliVelshi) January 01, 2013 
 
 "I don't think there's a clear argument" for House Republicans not to pass the bill --Ross @DouthatNYT live now on @CNN — 
 
 Vaughn Sterling CNN (@vplus) January 01, 2013 
 
 VP Biden at DC Potbelly- I asked him we we avoid fiscal cliff- he says "I think so, I hope so" — 
 
 Lesa Jansen (@lesajansencnn) January 01, 2013 
 
 I asked VO Biden what if House sends bill back to Sen- "I think we're going to be ok" walking back to WH — 
 
 Lesa Jansen (@lesajansencnn) January 01, 2013 
 
 4:18 p.m. ET - House GOP leadership continues meeting to plot a path forward on the fiscal cliff bill. (Getty Images) 
 
 4:11 p.m. ET - Vice President Joe Biden told reporters outside the White House that he thinks and hopes the fiscal cliff deal will pass the House. He returned to the White House after lunch at a sandwich shop nearby. 
 
 4:09 p.m. ET - More from Issa: "Let's remember: If we get it right on January 2, 3, 4, 5, we will not see the [fiscal cliff] kick in." 
 
 Wolf Blitzer asks Issa about potential backlash from voters. "They'll hate you," Blitzer says. 
 
 "I only have one voting card," Issa says. "I was instructed by my constituents to vote on conscience." 
 
 4:05 p.m. ET - Rep. Darrell Issa, R-California, says on CNN he's with Eric Cantor: He cannot vote for the fiscal cliff bill in its current form. He wants a bill with spending cuts. 
 
 3:50 p.m. ET - The fiscal cliff deal passed by the Senate Tuesday morning would increase deficits over the next decade by close to $4 trillion, according to the Congressional Budget Office. 
 
 But that's relative to where deficits would otherwise be if Congress were to let all the Bush tax cuts expire and keep much if not all of the other tax hikes and spending cuts under the fiscal cliff in place. Under that scenario, only $2.88 trillion would be added to the debt over the next decade. 
 
 3:36 p.m. ET - Another potential wrinkle to the fiscal cliff battle: the new Congress will be sworn in on Thursday. Any legislation passed by one chamber and not the other will have to be re-voted upon by the House and the Senate when the new session begins. 
 
 VP biden went out to get lunch at Potbelly sandwhich for self + staff. Mess inside White House is closed, folks are hungry! — 
 
 Jessica Yellin (@YellinCNN) January 01, 2013 
 
 3:34 p.m. ET - LaTourette predicts that some kind of measure will be voted upon Tuesday in the House. 
 
 3:31 p.m. ET - Rep. Steve LaTourette, R-Ohio, says it's ridiculous for the House to vote on a bill passed by "sleep deprived octogenarians." (He's talking about senators who voted on the bill early this morning). 
 
 3:23 p.m. ET - Brendan Buck, a spokesman for House Speaker John Boehner, issued this statement following a meeting of the House GOP conference: 
 
 "The Speaker and Leader laid out options to the members and listened to feedback. The lack of spending cuts in the Senate bill was a universal concern amongst members in today’s meeting. Conversations with members will continue throughout the afternoon on the path forward." 
 
 3:16 p.m. ET - If Republicans amend the Senate-passed bill to include spending cuts - and vote to pass it - the measure would then head back to the Senate for another vote in the upper chamber. 
 
 3:09 p.m. ET - CNN's Deirdre Walsh reports from Capitol Hill that House Majority Leader Eric Cantor opposes the fiscal cliff measure passed by the Senate. "I do not support the bill," Cantor told reporters as he was leaving a meeting of the GOP conference. He said no decisions have been made, and that he's looking for the best path forward. 
 
 Cantor "I do not support the bill" - said no decisions have been made - still looking for best path forward — 
 
 Deirdre Walsh (@deirdrewalshcnn) January 01, 2013 
 
 3:11 p.m. ET - If the House holds an up-or-down vote, will Democrats get enough votes? Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer says he doesn't have a number but believes they "will have a bipartisan vote." Neither he nor Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi would say whether they were conferring with Republicans about which GOP members would support the bill, as they said their own members were still considering the proposal. 
 
 "Our members are taking a look at the bill," said Democratic Rep. Chris Van Hollen, the top Democrat on the Budget Committee. "We would just ask our Republican colleagues to bear in mind the good of the country as they weigh the equities." 
 
 3:08 p.m. ET - As House Democratic leaders speak to cameras, GOP members are leaving their conference meeting: 
 
 Sentiment out of gop meeting is most gop members want spending cuts of some sort on an amendment — 
 
 Dana Bash (@DanaBashCNN) January 01, 2013 
 
 Boehner, McCarthy won't answer if vote today, many gop members openly admit they don't know if fiscal cliff vote will happen today — 
 
 Deirdre Walsh (@deirdrewalshcnn) January 01, 2013 
 
 3:03 p.m. ET - Rep. Steny Hoyer, the House Democratic whip, said Democratic members were still reviewing specifics of the compromise measure, but that he was hopeful the House would pass it before this congress adjourns. 
 
 3:01 p.m. ET - Rep. Nancy Pelosi, the House Minority Leader, says after meeting with Vice President Biden she expected House Speaker John Boehner to bring the Senate-passed fiscal cliff measure to the floor for an up-or-down vote. 
 
 "Up until now our speaker has said when the Senate acts we will have a vote in the House. That is what the speaker said. That is what the American people deserve," Pelosi said. 
 
 2:31 p.m. ET - Rep. Steve Israel, D-New York, said Vice President Biden was "evangelical" during his meeting with House Democrats Tuesday in order to convince skeptical members to vote for the fiscal cliff bill. Speaking on CNN, Israel said he thought most Democrats would support the measure after hearing from Biden. 
 
 2:01 p.m. ET - Rev. Barry Black, Senate chaplain, referred to God as the "source of strength for stressed out emotions and strained minds" in a prayer on the Senate floor. 
 
 "Thank you for using our senators in the early morning hours of this new year to accomplish your purposes. May the sparks from their bipartisan cooperation ignite flames of unity that will illuminate the inevitable darkness to come," he said. 
 
 2:24 p.m. ET - CNN's Deirdre Walsh reports on how one GOP House member is feeling about a fiscal cliff vote 
 
 Rep Jeff Flake says he doesn't think House will vote on cliff today, says still looking at the bill, on whether vote 2mrw "it's got to" — 
 
 Deirdre Walsh (@deirdrewalshcnn) January 01, 2013 
 
 2:17 p.m. ET - For even more on the fiscal cliff deal the Senate signed off on last night, read this story from CNN's Josh Levs: 5 things to know about the fiscal cliff. 
 
 Because it's so complex, I put this together: 5 things to know about the fiscal cliff ow.ly/gsT6s — 
 
 Josh Levs (@joshlevscnn) January 01, 2013 
 
 Joe Biden has left the Democratic caucus in the House. — 
 
 Ashley Killough (@KilloughCNN) January 01, 2013 
 
 Gop source insists boehner is not taking a position for or against the cliff deal. 2nd source says gop members want spending cuts — 
 
 Dana Bash (@DanaBashCNN) January 01, 2013 
 
 Gop source says inside house meeting going on right now - boehner is "laying out options" on how to address members' concerns w cliff deal — 
 
 Dana Bash (@DanaBashCNN) January 01, 2013 
 
 1:00 p.m. ET - Vice President Biden arrived at a meeting of House Democrats. (Getty Images) 
 
 12:32 p.m. ET - CNN's Deirdre Walsh reports Vice President Biden has arrived on Capitol Hill for a meeting with House Democrats. 
 
 "Hello folks, Happy New Year, Happy New Year," he said as he walked into the meeting. 
 
 12:25 p.m. ET - A House GOP leadership aide tells CNN's Dana Bash that any decision about a House vote on the fiscal cliff measure will come after a second GOP meeting later this afternoon (a first meeting is slated for 1 p.m. ET). 
 
 “The purpose of this meeting is to review what the Senate has passed, discuss potential options, and seek member feedback," the aide said of the 1 p.m. meeting. "No decision on the path forward is expected before another member meeting that will be held later today.” 
 
 12:03 p.m. ET - Rep. Norm Dicks, D-Washington, is on CNN relaying what he heard Tuesday morning during his work-out in the House gym. Dicks says he thinks the measure will come up for a vote, and will pass with support from Democrats and Republicans. Dicks, who is retiring at the end of this congress, is the ranking member of the House Appropriations Committee. 
 
 Rep Norm Dicks on CNN says he thinks about 150 Ds would vote for fiscal cliff deal — 
 
 Deirdre Walsh (@deirdrewalshcnn) January 01, 2013 
 
 Rep Norm Dicks on CNN telling @DanaBashCNN about talking to colleagues about fiscal cliff bill working out at House gym this morning — 
 
 Deirdre Walsh (@deirdrewalshcnn) January 01, 2013 
 
 12:01 p.m. ET - Dana Bash live on CNN soon with latest on where the House fiscal cliff vote stands. 
 
 On cnn next with rep norm dicks to give me scoop about what he heard in the house gym about cliFf votes. — 
 
 Dana Bash (@DanaBashCNN) January 01, 2013 
 
 11:59 p.m. ET - Here's a chart mapping how senators voted early Tuesday on the fiscal cliff measure. 
 
 10:57 a.m. ET - Rep. Tim Huelskamp, R-Kansas, explains why he thinks he'll be voting against the fiscal cliff deal passed in the Senate last night. 
 
 10:45 a.m. ET - Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Florida, released a statement Tuesday explaining his "no" vote on the fiscal cliff bill. He wrote that while he "appreciated" Sen. McConnell's work in negotiating a deal, he couldn't support the arrangement since it "does nothing to bring our dangerous debt under control." 
 
 "This deal just postpones the inevitable, the need to solve our growing debt crisis and help the 23 million Americans who can't find the work they need," Rubio wrote. 
 
 For more on which senators voted "no" on the deal, click here. 
 
 10:41 a.m. ET - More on the timing of today's action on Capitol Hill from CNN's Deirdre Walsh: Two aides say the GOP conference is meeting today at 1 p.m. ET. 
 
 Any decision whether the House votes Tuesday will most likely be made following that meeting — after House Speaker John Boehner and Majority Leader Eric Cantor go over the fiscal cliff deal with all House Republicans. 
 
 10:39 a.m. ET - From CNN's Lisa Desjardins on Capitol Hill: 
 
 BIDEN RETURNS: the Dem-whisperer will be at the House Democrats' caucus meeting here at the Capitol today. 12n ET. — 
 
 Lisa Desjardins (@LisaDCNN) January 01, 2013 
 
 10:25 a.m. ET - More from Dana Bash: House Majority Leader Eric Cantor’s office says there’s no decision yet on whether the House will vote Tuesday on the fiscal cliff deal passed by the Senate. 
 
 10:15 a.m. ET - Latest on a potential House vote from CNN Senior Congressional Correspondent Dana Bash: 
 
 1p gop house meeting will be critical — 
 
 Dana Bash (@DanaBashCNN) January 01, 2013 
 
 House gop ldshp source says no decisions yet on whether thee will be a vote today. Gop leaders appear genuinely unsure if deal can fly — 
 
 Dana Bash (@DanaBashCNN) January 01, 2013 
 
 9:57 a.m. ET - Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-South Carolina, looks ahead to one of the three upcoming "fiscal cliffs" which will confront legislators this year: 
 
 The debt ceiling fight is where we can make major spending changes and prevent the country from becoming Greece. — 
 
 Lindsey Graham (@GrahamBlog) January 01, 2013 
 
 9:49 a.m. ET - Rep. Dennis Kucinich, D-Ohio, said on CNN's "Newsroom" Tuesday morning that he would likely vote for the fiscal cliff bill which passed the Senate, but that he needs time to consider the "fine print." This would be one of the last votes Kucinich would cast, as he is retiring from the House this year after serving eight terms. 
 
 9:45 a.m. ET - Conservative Republican Rep. Jason Chaffetz of Utah wrote on Twitter Tuesday he wouldn't support the bill passed by the Senate. If every Democrat backs the measure, roughly 30 Republicans will need to vote "yes" in order for it to pass the House. 
 
 Without substantial, real first year cuts in spending I can't vote for the bill passed by the Senate late last night. — 
 
 Jason Chaffetz (@jasoninthehouse) January 01, 2013 
 
 9:30 a.m. ET - CNN Senior Congressional Producer Deirdre Walsh reports that House Republicans will meet on the Hill at 1 p.m. ET, ahead of any votes on the fiscal cliff package. 
 
 House Republicans meeting at 1p to discuss fiscal cliff bill passed by Senate — 
 
 Deirdre Walsh (@deirdrewalshcnn) January 01, 2013 
 
 9:28 a.m. ET - What exactly is in the measure up for debate? Most prominently, it would extend the Bush-era tax cuts for the vast majority of Americans and spare tens of millions from the Alternative Minimum Tax. 
 
 While it would provide some short-term certainty, it would leave a range of big issues unaddressed. Read more at CNNMoney. 
 
 9:21 a.m. ET - Rep. Dennis Kucinich, D-Ohio, says on CNN the Senate-passed fiscal cliff bill looks like something he could support, but that he'll have to read the fine print. 
 
 8:30 a.m. ET - Rep. Jason Altmire (D-PA) says he will vote for the Senate approved bill unamended, expects most of House to pass it.
– It's just another Sunday teetering on the fiscal cliff, with the Hill reporting that both Alan Simpson and Erskine Bowles are indicating that tax hikes for the rich were a foregone conclusion. “I think Erskine and I both agree that if anybody out there who is, quote, rich doesn’t think their taxes go up, the drinks are on me, I’ll cover it,” says Simpson. And even "that alone won't solve the problem," adds Bowles, who nevertheless indicated he was "more encouraged" than a week ago, because the GOP and Dems "have started to tango now." He praised John Boehner as "a speaker who really gets it" for not wrapping his proposal in any deal-breakers, notes Politico. Elsewhere on the Sunday dial: Bob Corker on Obama's tax offer: "There is a growing group of folks looking at this and realizing that we don’t have a lot of cards as it relates to the tax issue. I think [that notion] has merit....I actually am beginning to believe that is the best route for us to take." Christine Lagarde on the fiscal cliff: “The best way out of this will be a balanced solution ... (which) takes into account both increasing revenue … and cutting spending, as well." Failure would mean "markets would react very quickly" with stocks "really taking a hit." Cory Booker on his career prospects: "I am absolutely considering running for governor, as well as giving other options some consideration. I'm going to be focused on that for the next week to 10 days or so." As for a run for Frank Lautenberg's Senate seat: "Yeah, I’m actually looking at that a lot as well." Newt Gingrich on Hillary Clinton's 2016 prospects: It's "virtually impossible" for any Democrat to deny her the nomination, and a Clinton candidacy "clears the field."