US Politics Special: A 6-Point Guide to the "Fiscal Cliff"
Monday, December 31, 2012 at 7:34President Obama calls on Friday for a resolution to avoid the "fiscal cliff"
See also US Audio Feature: So How Serious is This "Fiscal Cliff"? --- Scott Lucas with the BBC
Editor's Note: As 2012 comes to a close, the emergency story in the US press is the "fiscal cliff". If there is no agreement by midnight, then tax cuts introduced by George W. Bush almost a decade ago will lapse, and funding of Federal programmes --- such as benefits for long-term unemployment and farm subsidies --- will be in jeopardy.
Discussions on Sunday were adjourned without agreement between the Obama Administration and Democratic and Republican leaders in Congress, despite Democratic concessions such as the raising of tax rates only on those making more than $450,000 a year and on an escalation of estate tax.
But as the haggling over details continues to the last minute, what are the basic economic issues? What happens if the clock strikes 12 and there is no dramatic resolution? EA's Lee Haddigan explains....