U.S. Senate approves bill to avoid ‘fiscal cliff’

January 1, 2013

U.S. Senate on Tuesday,two hours after a Dec. 31 deadline had lapsed, approved legislation aimed at averting the “fiscal cliff” by stopping most tax hikes and across-the-board spending cuts that were due to begin with the new year.
The House of Representatives still has to approve the measure,possibly on Tuesday.  Senate agreement, in an 89-8 vote, was the result of overnight talks on Monday between Vice President Joe Biden and Republican Senate leader Mitch McConnell. The Republicans agreed to allow the tax rises for the wealthiest Americans, but senators put off a final decision on a range of budget cuts worth $110 billion.President Obama said: "While neither Democrats nor Republicans got everything they wanted, this agreement is the right thing to do for our country and the House should pass it without delay," USA Today reported.
House Speaker John Boehner, anticipating the deal on Monday night, said the House "would honor its commitment to consider the agreement if it is passed. Decisions about whether the House will seek to accept or promptly amend the measure will not be made until House members — and the American people — have been able to review the legislation.”
No immediate effects will be felt from the deal in the US as Tuesday is a public holiday, but if Congress also approves it as expected, automatic budget cuts will be averted as well as huge tax cuts for virtually all Americans.
Media agencies