Details emerge in fiscal cliff agreement
Washington (CNN) – A deal was reached between Congressional leaders and the White House late Monday night, according to a Democratic source.
The agreement brokered by Vice President Joe Biden and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell was later signed off on by House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid during calls with President Barack Obama, said a source familiar with the deal.
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Without cliff vote, some lawmakers make other plans for New Year's Eve
Washington (CNN) - After House leaders decided to adjourn until Tuesday without a fiscal cliff deal, House Majority Whip Kevin McCarthy advised members to stay near the Capitol in case a vote comes up.
It's unusual that members of Congress are in Washington on New Year's Eve; the last time it happened was in 1995. Members generally spend the holiday far away from the halls of the Capitol.
So what are some House lawmakers doing in Washington on the last night of 2012? (And how close are they really staying to the office?)
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Chief Justice laments 'fiscal cliff' effects on federal courts
Washington (CNN) - Chief Justice John Roberts is warning leaders in the other two branches of the federal government that the pending "fiscal cliff" would "inevitably result in the delay or denial of justice for the people the courts serve."
In his annual year-end report on the federal judiciary, Roberts on Monday said the federal courts have already made significant cuts in their funding, representing only about two-tenths of 1% of the entire federal budget. He said a prolonged reduction would be extremely hard to overcome.
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It's official: U.S. hits debt ceiling
New York (CNNMoney) - It's official: U.S. debt will reach its legal borrowing limit on Monday, giving Congress about two months before it must raise the debt ceiling or risk causing the government to default on its bills and financial obligations.
"I can confirm we will reach the statutory debt limit today, Dec. 31," a Treasury Department official said.
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Pizza magnate wins temporary ruling on contraception coverage dispute
(CNN) - The billionaire founder of Domino's Pizza has won a temporary court victory, with a federal judge blocking enforcement of part of the health care reform bill requiring most employers to provide a range of contraception and reproductive health services.
Some business owners and their staff see that as a violation of their religious rights.
FULL STORYTranscript: Obama's last-minute push on fiscal cliff deal
(CNN) - President Barack Obama said Monday a fiscal cliff deal is "within sight" but added "it's not done."
Read a full transcript of his remarks after the jump.
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CNN's GUT CHECK for December 31, 2012
CNN's GUT CHECK | for December 31, 2012 | 5 p.m.
– n. a pause to assess the state, progress or condition of the political news cycle
BREAKING: SECRETARY CLINTON’S BLOOD CLOT BETWEEN BRAIN AND SKULL… Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has a blood clot between her brain and skull behind her right ear, her doctors said. Clinton remained hospitalized Monday in New York after the clot was discovered during a follow-up exam related to a concussion she suffered this month, her spokesman said. Her doctors said in a statement that the clot found Sunday "did not result in a stroke or neurological damage" and that they "are confident she will make a full recovery."
GOING OVER THE CLIFF – TECHNICALLY: The United States is headed over the fiscal cliff with no prospect of full congressional action before Tuesday. House GOP leaders have said the chamber would not vote on any cliff package until New Year's Day, after the midnight deadline for Bush-era tax cuts to expire. Republican leaders prefer to vote during the day, sources told CNN, instead of in the middle of the night. The steep budget cuts associated with the cliff are not set to take effect until Wednesday. – Dana Bash and Deirdre Walsh
POTENTIAL POLITICAL COVER: GOP sources admitted there is an added benefit to the delay: taxes would already be up, so lawmakers could argue that they are voting for tax cuts, as opposed to tax increases. One GOP source also said that may help get more House Republicans to vote for the deal. "I wouldn't overestimate it, but a handful may be the difference we need," the source said.
CNN's GUT CHECK for December 31, 2012
CNN's GUT CHECK | for December 31, 2012 | 5 p.m.
– n. a pause to assess the state, progress or condition of the political news cycle
BREAKING: SECRETARY CLINTON’S BLOOD CLOT BETWEEN BRAIN AND SKULL… Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has a blood clot between her brain and skull behind her right ear, her doctors said. Clinton remained hospitalized Monday in New York after the clot was discovered during a follow-up exam related to a concussion she suffered this month, her spokesman said. Her doctors said in a statement that the clot found Sunday "did not result in a stroke or neurological damage" and that they "are confident she will make a full recovery."
GOING OVER THE CLIFF – TECHNICALLY: The United States is headed over the fiscal cliff with no prospect of full congressional action before Tuesday. House GOP leaders have said the chamber would not vote on any cliff package until New Year's Day, after the midnight deadline for Bush-era tax cuts to expire. Republican leaders prefer to vote during the day, sources told CNN, instead of in the middle of the night. The steep budget cuts associated with the cliff are not set to take effect until Wednesday. – Dana Bash and Deirdre Walsh
POTENTIAL POLITICAL COVER: GOP sources admitted there is an added benefit to the delay: taxes would already be up, so lawmakers could argue that they are voting for tax cuts, as opposed to tax increases. One GOP source also said that may help get more House Republicans to vote for the deal. "I wouldn't overestimate it, but a handful may be the difference we need," the source said.
Clinton's clot located between brain and skull, doctors say
(CNN) - Hillary Clinton's doctors said Monday that the secretary of state's blood clot is located "between the brain and the skull behind the right ear."
Clinton remained hospitalized Monday at New York Presbyterian Hospital for a clot that was discovered during a follow-up exam related to a concussion she suffered this month, her spokesman said.
Read the full statement from her doctors:
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Federal workers brace for furloughs
New York (CNNMoney) - Federal workers are bracing for furloughs that could start to take place in the next few months if Congress doesn't replace massive budget cuts scheduled to begin Wednesday.
Even as a fiscal cliff deal was beginning to emerge Monday afternoon, lawmakers and the president still lacked agreement to stop measures carving some $110 billion in spending power from federal budgets each year over the next decade through automatic cuts.
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