WASHINGTON-- Now in the spotlight, House Republicans are meeting behind closed doors to decide their next move after the Senate overwhelmingly approved compromise legislation avoiding a fiscal cliff of across-the-board tax increases and sweeping spending cuts to the Pentagon and other government agencies.
The Senate endorsed the legislation early today, 89-8. That vote came hours after Vice President Joe Biden and Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky sealed a deal.
It would prevent middle-class taxes from going up but would raise rates on single people making $400,000 and couples making $450,000 per year. It would also block spending cuts for two months, extend unemployment benefits for the long-term jobless, prevent a 27 percent cut in fees for doctors who treat Medicare patients and prevent a spike in milk prices.
As GOP lawmakers met privately to gauge support for the accord, Biden tried selling the deal in a separate closed-door gathering of House Democrats.
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