White House urges opponents not to block 'fiscal cliff' deal
The White House has called on congressional Republicans to not stand in the way of a resolution on the US Congress.
Barack Obama cut short a Christmas holiday to resume talks to avoid the "fiscal cliff" of automatic year-end tax hikes and spending cuts.
"It's up to the Senate Minority Leader not to block a vote and it's up the House Republican leader, the Speaker of the House ... to allow a vote," a senior administration official told reporters.
America's budget crisis has been averted, but not solved
America's financial crisis has been averted, not solved. We've had the fiscal cliff. Now get ready for the debt abyss.
What is America's 'fiscal cliff'?
Democrats and Republicans have so far failed to agree on an alternative plan to the tax increases and spending cuts scheduled for January 1.