HONOLULU — With a yearend deadline looming before the economy goes over the so-called fiscal cliff, President Barack Obama is cutting short his traditional Christmas holiday in Hawaii, planning to leave for Washington on Wednesday evening.
Obama was expected to arrive in Washington early Thursday, the White House said late Tuesday. First lady Michelle Obama and the couple's two daughters are scheduled to remain in Hawaii until Jan. 6.
In the past, the president's end-of-the-year holiday in his native state had stretched into the new year. The first family left Washington last Friday night.
Congress was expected to return to Washington on Thursday. Before he departed for Hawaii, Obama told reporters he expected to be back in the capital this week.
Without action by Obama and Congress, automatic budget cuts and tax increases are set to begin in January, which many economists say could send the country back into recession. So far, the president and congressional Republicans have been unable to reach agreement on any alternatives.
Lawmakers have expressed little but pessimism for the prospect of an agreement coming before Jan. 1. On Sunday, Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, R-Texas, said she expects any action in the waning days of the year to be "a patch because in four days we can't solve everything."
With the collapse last week of House Speaker John Boehner's plan to allow tax rates to rise on million-dollar-plus incomes, lawmakers were increasingly worried that no deal can be reached.
They were already preparing their arguments about who is to blame if the new year comes without an agreement.
Obama already has scaled back his ambitions for a sweeping budget bargain. Before leaving the capital on Friday, he called for a limited measure that extends George W. Bush-era tax cuts for most people and staves off federal spending cuts.
The Obamas were spending the holiday at a rented home near Honolulu. On Christmas Day, the president and first lady visited with members of the military to express thanks for their service.
"One of my favorite things is always coming to base on Christmas Day just to meet you and say 'thank you,'" the president said at Marine Corps Base Hawaii's Anderson Hall. He said that being commander in chief was his greatest honor as president.
Obama took photos with individual service members and their families.
On Christmas Eve, Obama called members of the military to thank them for serving the nation, then joined his family for dinner, the White House said. The Obamas opened gifts Christmas morning, ate breakfast and sang carols.
Friends were joining the Obamas for Christmas dinner Tuesday night, the White House said.
Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group
Comments » 6
KlausStoertebeker writes:
Without action by responsible President Barack Obama and Congress, automatic budget cuts and tax increases are set to begin in January, which many economists say could send the country back into recession. So far, the president and congressional Republicans have been unable to reach agreement on any alternatives.
This is 100% the responsibility of the yesterday Republican party and their indoctrinated right wings fanatics Bachmann and Palin. Boehner has no mandate anymore. A peacock with no balls. Every patriotic American has to give President Barack Obama, the best living US politician a big hand. This great guy works his butt up to solve the terrible mistakes "W" the tomfool bush did.
President Barack Obama is focused on the national and international solution of this unbelievable terrible situation American is faced. Rating down to the B level. Recession with an increase of the unemployment rate.
America on downfall.
Send a letter to the Republicans and say "THANK YOU". America will never elect them again!!!!!!!!
KlausStoertebeker writes:
Now, Congress is to meet again on Thursday. Given the limited time, President Barack Obama will now put on a small solution. He said that was to be created, after failed negotiations with Republican leader John Boehner on Friday. Insistently, he appealed to Republicans to abandon their rigid stance. "No one can get 100 percent of what he wants," he said. "This is not a competition between parties about who looks good and who is not."
Boehner also suffered a serious setback in his own camp. On Thursday, he had to cancel a vote planned by him, when it went to higher taxes for the super rich, with an annual income of more than $1 million, because he won no majority for that. Radical tea-party-trailer in the Republican camp categorically reject any tax increases.
Very patriotic!
marco826 writes:
Klaus,
All the headlines say Obama cuts his vacation short...that's bull crap. He plays congress and the American people like a fiddle. The truth is, no real fiscal issues are being addressed. Obama could care less if we head into another recession. He has already set the stage to put all the blame on Republicans....and they are too stupid to avoid it. American super power is the target of Obama. He has denounced it and is proceeding to tear it down. This fiscal cliff bull crap is only the beginning of his plan. A plan that regrettably will occur.
KlausStoertebeker writes:
826,
my problem is not whether President Barack Obama cuts his vacation or not. My problem is January 1, 2013!
If January 1, 2013 without agreement expires, then grace us God. America would then collapse of the so-called fiscal cliff and pull the global economy into the abyss.
It is true: the consequences of a delayed agreement would be unpleasant; the great crash would remain but for the time being. Because the savings automatic of America would meet the first months still not with full force economy. The effects would begin to work only gradually - then but all the stronger.
Roughly can be divided the measures of the austerity package in three categories:
• Measures which come immediately into force and have effect immediately: Certain aid for the unemployed for example would fall away suddenly on new year's day. Scope of savings in the first year: $26 billion. Two million unemployed would have to feel these cuts immediately. The consequences for the economy would however keep in bounds.
• Measures, which take effect immediately, but show only time-shifted effects: The income tax as would rise immediately from January 1, 2013 to 2 %. Scope of savings in the first year: $95 billion. Expected to the year around 1500 dollars of less in your Pocket would taxpayers with income of 40,000 to 65,000 dollars in the average. The $125 would be per month. Most would be something less money Americans earn than before - what to negative could affect their buying behavior. That would be disastrous for the U.S. economy: two thirds of the gross domestic product (GDP) by consumer generated. Until the increased income tax actually affects the purchase, would take some weeks. Especially since the increase in the payroll tax could be undone, if Democrats and Republicans have agreed.
• Measures, which later have effects only in the course of the year. These include higher taxes on capital gains and real estate and the expiration of tax credits for middle income. These measures access only if the Americans to submit their tax return for the previous year 2014. Defense and Home Affairs would begin to take effect until weeks after January 1, 2013 planned spending cuts amounting to about $85 billion. All of these cuts would impact on the economy in the medium term. Gradually would restrain themselves to companies with investment and fewer new employees.
Thats all if Republican can not find a compromise by themselves.
The President is here in a bad position.
Unfortunately the GOP leader is not a leader anymore. More a puppet on the string. Hopefully you understand my English.
Happy New Year!
Let's play Golf.
WhiskeyTangoFoxtrot writes:
The fiscal cliff is just a dog and pony show for the people. No deal will be reached because a deal means real cuts in spending and tax hikes. None of the rats in DC want to be responsible for either. Re-election is all they care about.
The truth is...a "DEAL" was reached last time we raised the debt ceiling. The rats on both sides of the aisle crafted and agreed to the deal. Now the deal is about to cause prudent cuts to the budget and some people will lose. The rats don't want to be responsible for that either. The Fiscal Cliff is just a show for the morons in this country so they can't figure out who to blame. The rats in DC need to have a conversation with the people of this country to explain that either the people are willing to pay for all that DC provides or some things are going to go away. It's that simple. In a weeks time millions of people are about to lose their unemployment benefits. There is an article in this paper claiming "meals on wheels" will cease to exist in Collier county if we go over the cliff (none sense) due to federal cuts. I thought that was a charity? Cuts are coming and the fun is just getting started.
Austerity is a word I predicted would become commonly used in 2013 in America. So far I'm correct. I expect it to become even more common over the next 2 years.
WhiskeyTangoFoxtrot writes:
I guess the DC rats can agree to get some things done. Like agreeing they need to monitor their citizens.
U.S. SENATE HAS ENOUGH VOTES TO RENEW WARRANTLESS WIRETAP LAW - BBG
WIRETAP LAW LETS U.S. GOVERNMENT MONITOR E-MAILS AND CALLS
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