Obama Predicts Tax Bill Passage, Possible Changes
The Associated Press reports: “President Barack Obama is predicting congressional approval of the tax-cutting compromise he has reached with Republican leaders, but he’s not ruling out that unhappy Democrats will make some changes in the mammoth legislation. In an interview with NPR released Friday, Obama said that despite a rebellion by many Democrats against his tax deal, it will pass because ‘nobody — Democrat or Republican — wants to see people’s paychecks smaller on Jan. 1 because Congress didn’t act.’”
Obama’s Day Ahead
President Obama will meet with former President Bill Clinton at 3 p.m. ET, in the Oval Office.
Dems Show Signs Of Abandoning Obama Elsewhere After Tax Deal
The Hill reports: “Incensed over President Obama’s tax compromise, House Democratic leaders are showing signs of abandoning the administration and going their own way on critical issues such as national security. In a striking move, the appropriations committee late Wednesday attached a provision to a $1.1 trillion resolution to keep the government funded next year that would prevent Obama from spending any funds to try terrorism suspects in civilian court instead of military commissions.”
Hillary Clinton Looks To Break Mideast Deadlock
AFP reports: “US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is holding a flurry of talks to find a new way to break the deadlock in Middle East peace talks following a failed US push for an Israeli settlement freeze. The chief US diplomat was scheduled to meet in Washington on Friday with chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erakat, Palestinian prime minister Salam Fayyad and Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak, US officials said.”
Sales Of Sarah Palin’s Book ‘America By Heart’ Are Lackluster
The Washington Post reports: “Sarah Palin’s magic touch might be fading a bit. Although several of her recent projects have been successful, Palin’s latest book isn’t one of them. ‘America by Heart,’ Palin’s new memoir, has logged disappointing receipts since it officially went on sale late last month, publishing sources say. Although the book is second on the New York Times bestseller list this week (behind former president George W. Bush’s memoir, ‘Decision Points’) , its publisher, HarperCollins, hasn’t ordered a second printing - a sign that sales haven’t been overly brisk.”
Obama Weighs Tax Overhaul In Bid To Address Debt
The New York Times reports: “President Obama is considering whether to push early next year for an overhaul of the income tax code to lower rates and raise revenues in what would be his first major effort to begin addressing the long-term growth of the national debt. While administration officials cautioned on Thursday that no decisions have been made and that any debate in Congress could take years, Mr. Obama has directed his economic team and Treasury Department analysts to review options for closing loopholes and simplifying income taxes for corporations and individuals, though the study of the corporate tax system is farther along, officials said.”
Eric Kleefeld
Eric Kleefeld joined TPM as an intern for the final months of the 2006 midterm elections, and then kept showing up for work. His other interests include guitars, old comic books and the politics of various English-speaking countries.
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