President Barack Obama is urging congressional Republicans to accept more tax revenue in order to avert the sequester -- an $85 billion, across-the-board budget cut due to take effect March 1 that could derail America's still stuttering economic recovery.
Deep divisions among Senate Democrats over whether cuts to Medicare and Medicaid should be part of a plan to slow the growth of the federal debt pose a big obstacle to a deal for avoiding a potentially economy-crushing "fiscal cliff," even if Republicans agree to raise taxes.
Federal Reserve board nominees Janet Yellen, Peter Diamond and Sarah Bloom Raskin received a thumbs up from the Senate Banking Committee Wednesday, putting full Senate approval one step closer. A final vote is expected in September.