The chances of a year-end "fiscal cliff" deal seem to be diminishing by the hour, with Congress pretty much in pro-forma mode and a lot of the membership in limbo about what happens next. As members filter back slowly to D.C. from their holiday home leaves, Minnesota Democrat Betty McCollum announced that she returned yesterday and is urging her colleagues to get back to work as well.
"Americans are now back to work following the Christmas holiday and it's time for Congress to do the same and immediately return to Washington to pass an extension of the middle class tax cuts, protecting 98% of American taxpayers," she said. "If House leadership is unwilling to act then rank and file House members have an obligation to turn up the pressure. Congress should pass the middle class tax cut extension this weekend while allowing negotiations to continue on the other elements of the 'fiscal cliff' that require more time."
