Obama, GOP Hold Hushed Tax-Cut Talks

Could the president and GOP lawmakers be inching toward compromise? Working against the clock, Obama and congressional Republicans have been holding behind-the-scenes talks about extending tax cuts—due to expire at year’s end—and renewing expired emergency jobless benefits, and they're making slow and steady progress on the backroom deal, reports the Washington Post.

What each side is pushing for: Republicans want the cuts to be renewed at all income levels; they’re also calling for a move to keep government funded through September. For his part, Obama wants Republicans to support up to $150 billion in new spending, funds which include a 13-month jobless benefits renewal and an extension of tax cuts for working families. But Democrats are concerned that Obama is being too accommodating with Republicans and not calling for enough in exchange.
(More President Obama stories.)