President Barack Obama Statement on Fiscal Cliff (December 31)

President Barack Obama said on a statement today, December 31, 2012, “It appears that an agreement to prevent the fiscal cliff tax hike for Americans set to hit at midnight is within sight, but it’s not done.”

The President had strong words for the Republicans:

“If Republicans think that I will finish the job of deficit reduction, through spending cuts alone — and you hear that sometimes coming from them — sort of, after today we’re just going to try to shove only spending cuts down, you know, well — shove spending — shove spending cuts at us, that will hurt seniors, or hurt students, or hurt middle-class families without asking also equivalent sacrifice from millionaires or companies with a lot of lobbyists … if they think that’s going to be the formula for how we solve this thing, they have another thing coming,” Obama said.

Video: President Obama Statement on Fiscal Cliff