December 18, 2012
Statement by Press Secretary Jay Carney
The President has put a balanced, reasonable proposal on the table that achieves significant
deficit reduction and reflects real compromise by meeting the Republicans halfway on revenue
and more than halfway on spending from where each side started. That is the essence of
compromise. The parameters of a deal are clear, and the President is willing to continue to
work with Republicans to reach a bipartisan solution that averts the fiscal cliff, protects the
middle class, helps the economy, and puts our nation on a fiscally sustainable path. But he is
not willing to accept a deal that doesn’t ask enough of the very wealthiest in taxes and instead
shifts the burden to the middle class and seniors. The Speaker’s “Plan B” approach doesn’t
meet this test because it can’t pass the Senate and therefore will not protect middle class
families, and does little to address our fiscal challenges with zero spending cuts. The President
is hopeful that both sides can work out remaining differences and reach a solution so we don’t
miss the opportunity in front of us today.
From the White House
