Update: At least 51 dead, at least 120 treated at hospitals, including 50 children; some students rescued from debris of collapsed elementary school, but dozens not yet found.WASHINGTON – President Obama is inviting leaders from the labor and business communities to the White House this week for talks on the fiscal cliff.
The White House says Obama will meet with labor representatives as well as other progressive groups Tuesday. He’ll hold separate meetings with the business community Wednesday.
After his re-election, Obama said he wanted to build consensus for his approach to averting the cliff, a series of tax increases and spending cuts that will take effect at the end of the year without congressional action. The president says he is open to compromise, but is standing firm on his call for upper income earners to pay more in taxes.
Obama and bipartisan congressional leaders will hold their first fiscal cliff meeting Friday.
