White House spokesman Nicholas Shapiro said Mr. Obama will meet with Democratic Sen. Chuck Schumer of New York and Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina on Monday.
President Obama said he remains hopeful Congress will reach a deal to avert the "fiscal cliff," but he reiterated his call for a vote on his plan to extend middle-class tax rates if Congress fails.
Keen observers of the political landscape may have discerned this bit of information: The Republican establishment sort of hates its presidential front-runner Donald Trump.