Summary: FISCAL CLIFF VOTE. After a prolonged and intense battle, the U.S. Congress approved an agreement to avoid tax increases for most Americans and postponed the debate on multimillion dollar cuts to the Pentagon and other programs, the so-called “fiscal cliff.” This new bill, President Obama announced e will sign into law, will raise taxes for the wealthiest 2 percent of residents, while maintaining tax cut extensions for middle class families. This deal will also extend emergency unemployment benefits for a year. Some are criticizing the pact as not enough. Guests: Rafael Fantauzzi, President and CEO, National Puerto Rican Coalition, Washington, DC, http://www.bateylink.org ; Leticia Miranda, Senior Policy Advisor, Economic Security Policy, National Council of La Raza, Washington, DC, www.nclr.org ; audio excerpts of President Obama’s remarks on the deal.
