Departing aide expects more assertive Obama in second term

Nominee for Director of the White House Office for Health Reform DeParle speaks after being introduced by U.S. President Obama in WashingtonWASHINGTON (Reuters) – Americans should expect a more assertive President Barack Obama in his second term as he faces tough battles with Republicans, one of his top aides said on Thursday. Nancy-Ann Deparle, deputy White House chief of staff and one of the highest-ranking women in the White House, is leaving Friday after four years as an architect of Obama's 2010 healthcare overhaul. …

Senior Obama aide DeParle leaving White House: source

U.S. President Obama introduces Sebelius as Health and Human Services Secretary in WashingtonWASHINGTON (Reuters) – Nancy-Anne DeParle, a top aide to President Barack Obama, is leaving the White House, a source familiar with the matter said on Friday, marking the latest departure of a woman from a senior post in the administration. DeParle, 56, a White House deputy chief of staff, was Obama's point person on his signature healthcare overhaul in 2010. She was also a healthcare adviser to former President Bill Clinton and headed the agency that administers Medicare and Medicaid from 1997-2000. DeParle's departure is for personal reasons after nearly four years at the White House. …

Insight: "Fiscal cliff" fracas: From smiles to distrust to rancor

Speaker of the House John Boehner speaks to the press after a bipartisan meeting with U.S. President Barack Obama to discuss the economy in the Roosevelt Room of the White House(Note: includes graphic language) WASHINGTON (Reuters) – It began so optimistically. On November 16, after their first "fiscal cliff" session with President Barack Obama, the four leaders of Congress had stood in the driveway of the White House shoulder-to-shoulder for what is a rare photo these days, Republicans and Democrats together, smiling. There they were at the microphone, talking about a "framework" for tax reform and deficit reduction. …

House Republicans to meet to mull Senate-passed fiscal cliff deal

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Republican members of the U.S. House of Representatives will meet at 1 p.m. ET/1400 GMT Tuesday to discuss “a path forward” after Senate passage of a bipartisan “fiscal cliff” bill, a senior aide said. The meeting could help Republicans leaders decide when to begin consideration of the White House-backed measure. A vote could come as soon as later in the day. (Reporting by Thomas Ferraro; Editing by Bill Trott)

House Republicans to vote on "fiscal cliff" bill Thursday: Cantor

House Majority Leader Cantor speaks at a news conference after a Republican caucus meeting on Capitol HillWASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. House of Representatives Majority Leader Eric Cantor said he expects a vote on a Republican offer to avert the "fiscal cliff" on Thursday, and he expects to have enough votes to pass the measure. Cantor spoke on Tuesday, a day after top Republicans rejected the latest White House offer to avert some $600 billion in tax hikes and spending cuts looming at year's end, known as the fiscal cliff. Instead, Republicans plan a vote on a bill to raise taxes on income above $1 million while extending low rates for other taxpayers. …

House Republicans eye limited fiscal cliff bill

U.S. House Speaker Boehner and House Majority Leader Cantor stand during a news conference after a Republican caucus meeting in WashingtonWASHINGTON (Reuters) – With time running short before a Dec. 31 deadline, House of Representatives Speaker John Boehner will begin work on legislation that simply would extend current low income tax rates for all families with incomes below $1 million a year, according to an aide. Negotiations will continue with the White House on a broader tax and spending deal, the Boehner aide said. Boehner is presenting the plan to rank-and-file Republicans in a closed-door session. On January 1, income tax increases for most Americans will begin unless Congress acts. …

Boehner: Obama "fiscal cliff" offer "not there yet," but has hope

U.S. Speaker of the House of Representatives Boehner walks to his office in the U.S. Capitol after meeting with U.S. President Obama at the White House in WashingtonWASHINGTON (Reuters) – House of Representatives Speaker John Boehner on Tuesday said President Barack Obama's most recent offer to avert the "fiscal cliff" is "not there yet," but he still hopes he can reach a deal with the White House. Republican Boehner spoke to reporters after meeting with his Republican caucus to gauge their support for his recent offer on raising taxes on income above $1 million. A vote on that legislation, an attempt to stem billions in automatic tax increases, could come as early as this week, he said. (Reporting By Kim Dixon; Editing by Doina Chiacu)

Boehner: White House willing to "slow-walk" up to "fiscal cliff"

U.S. House Speaker Boehner speaks to the media outside his office in WashingtonWASHINGTON (Reuters) – Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives John Boehner on Thursday again rejected President Barack Obama's demand for increased power to raise the U.S. debt and charged that the White House seems willing to "slow-walk our economy right up to the 'fiscal cliff.'" The White House and Congress face a year-end deadline to avert the so-called fiscal cliff of automatic tax hikes and budget cuts that experts fear could plunge the nation into another recession. "The president wants to pretend spending isn't the problem. That's why we don't have an agreement" to reduce the …

No progress in "fiscal cliff" talks as new poll hits Republicans

U.S. House Speaker Boehner speaks to the media outside his office on Capitol Hill in WashingtonWASHINGTON (Reuters) – Sharp differences remained on Wednesday between congressional Republicans and the White House in talks to avert the "fiscal cliff" of steep tax hikes and budget cuts, and negotiators warned the showdown could drag on past Christmas. A Wall Street Journal-NBC News poll released late on Wednesday, however, held the potential to shake up the stalemate. Three-quarters of those surveyed, including 61 percent of Republicans, said they would accept raising taxes on the wealthy to avoid the so-called cliff, as Democratic President Barack Obama is demanding. …

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