White House Press Secretary Jay Carney Monday confirmed that President Obama had spoken with congressional leaders over the weekend about negotiations aimed at avoiding the so-called “fiscal cliff.” Carney said the Administration “remains confident” about stopping the series of tax increases and budget cuts that begin taking effect in January. Carney was joined at the briefing by the Chairman of the White House Council of Economic Advisers Alan Kruger, who discussed the middle class tax cuts.
Reading a statement on Egypt, Carney said the current political situation can only be resolved “by the adoption of a Constitution that respects fundamental freedoms, individual rights and the rule of law.”