Boehner, McConnell urge Obama to name spending cuts
(CNN) - Seeking to raise pressure on President Barack Obama, top Republican leaders in Congress called on the White House Tuesday to introduce serious cuts in the ongoing negotiations to avert the fiscal cliff.
"Where are the president's spending cuts? The longer the White House slow-walks this process, the closer our economy gets to the fiscal cliff," House Speaker John Boehner said during brief remarks on the House floor.
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What's the 'right-to-work' battle all about?
(CNN) - The battle over right-to-work legislation in Michigan has renewed debate over labor policy and the role of unions in the American economy. Here's a quick look at the issue:
What's going on?
Michigan's storied labor movement and its allies are mobilizing to stop Republican-backed legislation that would give workers the right to opt out of union membership and, critics say, weaken unions. The state House and Senate passed separate "right-to-work" bills last week in a surprise move that provoked thousands of labor supporters to descend on the state Capitol for protests that led to eight arrests. More protests are scheduled for Tuesday.
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George H.W. Bush remains in hospital
(CNN) - Former President George H.W. Bush remains in a Houston hospital in stable condition, a hospital spokeswoman said Tuesday.
The 41st president has been in Methodist Hospital since November 23. He was being treated for bronchitis, his office said in a November statement.
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First on CNN: Haley finalizes short list for DeMint seat
Washington (CNN) - South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley has whittled down the list of people she is considering for Jim DeMint's soon-to-be-vacant Senate seat to five people, a Republican close to the governor told CNN on Tuesday.
Her final choices for the seat are Rep. Tim Scott, Rep. Trey Gowdy, former state Attorney General Henry McMaster, former South Carolina First Lady Jenny Sanford and Catherine Templeton, a conservative attorney chosen by Haley to head the state Department of Health and Environmental Control.
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Angry with Obama, GOP threatens political war next year
Washington (CNN) - They are losing the battle over higher taxes on the wealthy, so now Republicans are threatening a political war next year when it comes time to raise the nation's debt ceiling.
With cracks appearing in their anti-tax facade and polls showing most Americans favoring President Barack Obama's stance in fiscal cliff negotiations, GOP legislators are starting to advocate a tactical retreat to fight another day.
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Crossroads launches second round of fiscal cliff spots
Washington (CNN) - A top independent conservative group Tuesday launched radio spots targeting five Democratic senators in the battle over negotiations to prevent the country from falling off the fiscal cliff.
Crossroads GPS says its ads urge Senators Mark Begich of Alaska, Mary Landrieu of Louisiana, Kay Hagan of North Carolina, Tim Johnson of South Dakota and Jay Rockefeller of West Virginia to support significant spending cuts as part of any deal. The group says it's spending $240,000 to run the radio commercials.
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Americans more eager for compromise on fiscal cliff
(CNN) – With the clock ticking to the year-end fiscal cliff deadline, a new poll shows an uptick in Americans who say that want to see lawmakers reach a compromise, rather than dig in and refuse to sway from their principles.
The Gallup survey released Tuesday showed 70% of all adult Americans want to see Congress and the White House reach a compromise agreement that would avoid the tax hikes and spending cuts included in the fiscal cliff. That's up from the 62% who said they wanted compromise in a Gallup survey conduced last week.
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Poll: Ohio Gov. Kasich gets first positive score
(CNN) - With less than two years until his re-election, John Kasich's poll numbers appear to be moving in the right direction.
A Quinnipiac University poll released Tuesday indicates that for the first time since Ohio's Republican governor was inaugurated in January 2011, a plurality of Buckeye State voters are giving Kasich a thumbs up.
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The real debt problem: What will eat the tax dollars
New York (CNNMoney) - Often missing from the hyper-politicized debate over spending cuts and tax increases is a central point: Why the federal budget is on an unsustainable course.
Today, the United States spends about 71 cents of every federal tax dollar it collects on the Big 4: Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security and interest on the debt.
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POLITICAL HOT TOPICS: Tuesday, December 11, 2012
The CNN Washington Bureau’s morning speed read of the top stories making news from around the country and the world. Click on the headlines for more.
CNN: McCain seeking Foreign Relations seat before possible Rice confirmation hearing
Sen. John McCain is seeking a slot on the Foreign Relations Committee next year and could be in place to grill United Nations Ambassador Susan Rice at her confirmation hearing if President Obama nominates her to be secretary of state.
CNNMoney: Democrats try to stop Michigan 'right-to-work' law
The Michigan legislature is set to take up and likely approve a controversial "right-to-work" bill aimed at organized labor on Tuesday. Several prominent Michigan Democrats met with Republican Gov. Rick Snyder on Monday in an effort to convince him not to sign the bill, which cleared some legislative hurdles last week.
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