No solution yet for fiscal cliff as deadline approaches


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SALT LAKE CITY — Utah's congressional leaders say they're just as frustrated as anyone else at the lack of a solution to the fiscal cliff situation. The Senate is in session for a second day and the House is set to convene on Sunday.

No one in Utah's delegation wants to see the kinds of tax increases that will happen if and when we go over the fiscal cliff. But an even bigger worry is in the big picture--pressure mounting while the conditions that got us to this point are still not being addressed.

Today's meeting had four Washington Power players at the White House: Speaker John Boehner, House Minority leader Nancy Pelosi, Senate Majority leader Harry Reid, and Senate Minority leader Mitch McConnell.


It's a total dereliction of duty and candidly, a lack of courage, to deal with these issues.

–Tenn. Senator Bob Corker


"It's a total dereliction of duty and candidly, a lack of courage, to deal with these issues," said Tenn. Sen. Bob Corker.

Utah Senators Mike Lee and Orrin Hatch both say they're frustrated at the fiscal cliff situation.

In a statement from Hatch, the longtime senator blames the President. The only way to avoid the fiscal cliff, Hatch says, is with "strong presidential leadership --we haven't seen that', Hatch said.

Hatch accuses the President of trying to score ‘political points', calling for him to "get serious about finding a solution to stop this massive tax hike."

Lee also has strong feelings about what will happen beyond the fiscal cliff. Even if a solution is found, Lee says Americans shouldn't be satisfied with the status quo.


Even if a deal is reached this week, we still as we go into 2013 will still face a $13 trillion debt, and a sprawling outdated tax code that provides a volatile inconsistent revenue stream.

–Utah Sen. Mike Lee


"Even if a deal is reached this week, we still as we go into 2013 will still face a $13 trillion debt, and a sprawling outdated tax code that provides a volatile inconsistent revenue stream," Lee said.

But both Senators fear that allowing the massive tax increases would trigger a recession and both term the crisis as avoidable and unfortunate.

The end result of today's meeting was inconclusive. There are a couple more days to work out a deal, b more people are losing hope as the New Year approaches.

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Richard Piatt

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