Obama signs cliff deal to boost taxes on wealthy

Associated Press

HONOLULU (AP) - President Barack Obama has signed a bill that boosts taxes on the wealthiest Americans, while preserving tax cuts for most American households.

The bill, which averts a looming fiscal cliff that had threatened to plunge the nation back into recession, also extends expiring jobless benefits, prevents cuts in Medicare reimbursements to doctors and delays for two months billions of dollars in across-the-board spending cuts in defense and domestic programs.

The GOP-run House approved the measure by a 257-167 vote late Tuesday, nearly 24 hours after the Democratic-led Senate passed it 89-8.

Obama, who is vacationing in Hawaii, signed the bill using an autopen, a mechanical device that copies his signature.


(Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)
Top Stories
MyNorthwest.com - Purpose of Comments statement
Bonneville Media encourages site users to express their opinions by posting comments. Our goal is to maintain a civil dialogue in which readers feel comfortable. At times, the comments can descend to personal attacks. Please do not engage in such behavior. We encourage your thoughtful comments which: have a positive and constructive tone, are on topic, are respectful toward others and their opinions. Bonneville reserves the right to remove comments which do not conform to these criteria.

Comments (14)


  • Add A Comment

  • longwayhome wrote...
    republicans don't play well with others
    They grew up being the bullies on the playground, you know, the kids that didn't play sports because they were too fat and didn't fit in very well with the "normal" kids. They usually got the crap kicked out of them by the "normal" kids. They sought vengeance on the "normal" kids and decided to go into politics where they could make decisions for other people, the "normal" people. Well, that didn't turn out so well in 2012. The "normal" people decided that enough is enough and started kicking the republicans out of office. The republicans responded by being offended at such a thought that the American people didn't want them anymore, so they created a scenario where the American economy would fall over a "cliff" if they didn't get their way. Well, they lost another one. President Obama drew the line and said "This is it" compromise of go down in history as the worst party in the history of the U.S.A. Good luck, republicans, have a good holiday!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • HPD 5-0 wrote...
    $16 TRILLION and growing, Barry.
    What do you know about "what's right for our country"?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • wsualumn wrote...
    HPD
    He knows a lot more about what is right for our country than the guy that you voted for in 2000 and 2004.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • CH wrote...
    0-0 can't vote he has a little problem with the law . . . .
    he just likes to shoot off his mouth. What could We Americans put in it?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }