WASHINGTON — With less than four days left before the nation slides over the so-called fiscal cliff, a grand bargain may be off the table, but there is still time to ease some of the biggest problems — as long as House Republican leaders are willing to go along.
Following a meeting of political leaders at the White House Friday, Democratic and Republican congressional staffers said the first step would require some sign-off from Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.). Even without complete agreement, progress could be made if McConnell agrees not to obstruct a scaled-down deal such as the one proposed Friday afternoon by President Barack Obama. The president signaled Friday that he may ask Reid to push that proposal as a last resort.
The process could be helped along if Reid takes the suggestion made by McConnell and House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) to start with one of the pieces of legislation already passed by the House.
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