Obama to meet labor leaders for 'fiscal cliff' talks

[Enrique]

Source: USA Today

8:41AM EST November 13. 2012 - President Obama begins his campaign today to push Congress to accept a "balanced" plan to avert the so-called "fiscal cliff" by sitting down with members of his political base.

Obama will meet at the White House today with labor leaders including AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka; Mary Kay Henry, president of the Service Employees International Union; Lee Saunders of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees; and Dennis Van Roekel, president of the National Education Association.

The heads of several progressive organizations — including leaders of the Center for American Progress, the Center for Budget and Policy Priorities and MoveOn.org — have also been invited to participate in today's meeting.

The groups he will meet today, all of which campaigned for his re-election, are expected to press the president to avoid deep cuts to programs like Medicare and Social Security.

On Wednesday, Obama will turn his focus to the business community and has invited a dozen business leaders to the White House including Mark Bertolini, president, chairman and CEO of Aetna; Ursula Burns, chairman and CEO of Xerox; Kenneth Chenault, chairman and CEO of American Express Co. and Mike Duke, president and CEO, Walmart

Read more: http://www.usatoday.com/story/theoval/2012/11/13/obama-labor-progressive-fiscal-cliff/1701831/

[Lars77]

1. So why is this called a fiscal cliff anyway?

Basically it is the expiration of tax cuts for rich and middle income people, combined with a substantial cut in defense?

That doesen't sound like a cliff to me, it sounds like a highway to recovery.

[SoapBox]

3. Agreed. And yesterday, there was a union guy on one of the shows...

I think he was on Ed Schultz show that said, let it go.

He said, let it hit the cliff and THEN we can work the other way around and restore stuff.

Ya know, I liked it!

[forestpath]

2. "to avoid deep cuts" - WTF?

They should be pressing him to avoid any cuts.

[bread_and_roses]

6. We Are

Progressive groups (Labor and Allies) just had about 100 actions around the Country saying NO CUTS to SS/MA/MC ...

... we'll see if our leadership can stay strong this time or if they'll give in to some "Grand Bargain." I fervently hope they won't. But I'm not optimistic. We'll get sold out - by Obama, by the Dems in Congress, by our Labor leaders willing to go along to get along and by our so-called "progressives" like USA Action and its affiliates, and MoveOn, etc - who will all be protecting their "seat at the table."

[John2]

4. I'm

glad President Obama invited the organizations that represented the people who elected him to office. However, he should also invite the businesses that agree with them such as the Auto Industry. Don't just invite those Businesses that are against you. Then you will have even more leverage on them. Get them all in the same room and have it out. And if they don't get some agreement, off the cliff we go period. That would be the ultimatum.

[Rose Siding]

5. This is very good. Last time the talks were with business only

Vast improvement. Those groups listed will speak for the middle class -and in the big end-of-campaign push, the president stressed the need of a champion for us.

[Doctor_J]

7. Once the president has adopted "fiscal cliff" meme,

it's over. He's already capitulated to those whose asses WE kicked last week.