WASHINGTON -- Sen. Jon Kyl (R-Ariz.) said on Sunday that the only reason some Republicans had been willing to raise tax rates on income above $250,000 was that President Barack Obama had been firm in his position. Now that Obama and other Democrats are showing more flexibility, offering to set the threshold for tax increases at at least $400,000, the political calculus has changed, Kyl told ABC's "This Week."
On "Fox News Sunday," Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) said that he wouldn't support a $250,000 level because Democrats will agree to a higher threshold.
Kyl was read a comment by Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas), a top Republican who said recently that he expected $250,000 to be the agreed-upon level. "I believe we're going to pass the $250,000 and below sooner or later, and we really don't have much leverage there because those rates go up by operation of law Dec. 31. I would focus on the areas where we do have more leverage," Cornyn said.
But Kyl said that's no longer the case. "I don't think you have so many Republicans -- and the context of it was what is realistic as a deal. And the context of it was the president's adamant position that he wouldn't compromise on anything above $250,000. Let's just get back to the theory," Kyl suggested, ticking off arguments about the harm done to small businesses by a tax hike.
Graham said he won't support a "fiscal cliff" package that raises rates on income between $250,000 and $400,000 or $500,000, because he knows Democrats will cave on a higher threshold. He used the example of his fellow Fox guest, Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.).
"No," he said when asked if he'd support the $250,000 level, "because she's willing to go for more, and why would I not find 4 or 500, because I know the votes are there for 4 or 500? But in the House, will the votes be there for 4 or 500?"
Feinstein flinched and, when pressed, put the onus back on the president, who was the first to raise the compromise level to income over $400,000. "We believe that the 250 threshold is the appropriate threshold. The president did make an offer, we understand, of 400,000, with a trillion in cuts accompanying it. That was turned down by the House," she said. "The time has come really to measure the absence of a deal against a deal. ... We have to solve this immediate situation."
Asked whether she'd accept the higher level, Feinstein was quick to answer. "I could certainly live with it," she said.
Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.), speaking on "This Week," said he thought a deal would come together after Jan. 3, when Rep. John Boehner (R-Ohio) is safely reelected speaker. "I am hopeful in the new year, after Speaker Boehner is elected -- reelected -- and he doesn't have to worry about those 50 [members of the Tea Party faction], that he will start working in a way like the Senate works, which is Democrats and Republicans together," said Schumer.
Last week, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) said on the Senate floor that Boehner appeared more worried about holding his speakership than reaching a deal.
Earlier on HuffPost:
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Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/12/30/obama-fiscal-cliff-deal_n_2381458.html
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2013 is on the horizon, and most of us are scrambling to make up a few New Year's resolutions that, frankly, we'll probably forget about in February. Here's how to create a resolution that actually sticks so you can better yourself this year. 
One of the first mistakes people make is planning too many resolutions. The fewer things your brain has to deal with, the better, and you'll be able to focus all your motivation on one resolution, increasing the chances you'll succeed. Need ideas? Check out our top 10 easy-to-keep resolutions, or go for one of the five most popular resolutions and follow our guide to ensuring its success.
Having an "accountability buddy" is an old, yet tried-and-true tip for sticking to your resolutions. Tell your goals to a few close family and friends who will be honest with you and keep you on the right track. Heck, if you're having trouble thinking of a good resolution, those buddies can actually help you pick one, too (since they know you best, faults and all). Don't go too overboard, though. Remember, sometimes sharing with too many people can hinder your accomplishments. Photo by Lululemon Athletica.
New Year's resolutions are often big and general, making them hard to attain. The more specific you can be, the easier it will be to reach that goal. "Lose weight" or "get in shape" is a bad resolution; "Lose 15 pounds by March" is a good one. Setting multiple specific goals throughout the year is good, too. That way, you always have something attainable to focus on that doesn't seem far off. Photo by Rob Ellis.
If your resolution involves building small habits?like, say, flossing every day or taking daily vitamins?you can "piggyback" these habits with other, already-established ones. Stick your dental floss in your shower and floss during your shower, or put your vitamin jar inside your kitchen cupboard so you always remember to take them when you eat breakfast. The easier you can form the habit, the more likely it is to stick.
Not every resolution is perfect out of the gate, so don't hold yourself to a poorly-formed goal if it just won't work. Give yourself a 30-day trial run to work out the kinks, where you can let yourself stumble a bit and tweak your goals to something better suited for success. Keep in mind that not all habits are formed in 21 days, as conventional wisdom says, so even after the trial run, give yourself time to sink into the habit before you start admitting defeat. Photo by John Kwan (Shutterstock).
Resolutions are hard to keep without a sense of accomplishment. Having specific, gradual goals can help, but another trick is to play some mind games with yourself. The placebo effect can be pretty useful in keeping you motivated, even if you know you're using it on yourself. Focus on anything that makes you feel like you're succeeding. If you're trying to lose weight, eating from smaller plates will make you "feel" fuller, even if you're eating the same amount of food, for example. Do whatever you need to do to trick your mind and you'll be well on your way to success. Photo by mattza.
As writer Rod Ebrahimi says, "focus on the carrot, not the stick". If you're having trouble staying motivated, focus on what you'll get from your end goal?whether that's feeling better at a lower weight, being able to impress your friends with your new guitar skills, or just being able to breathe now that you've quit smoking. Staying positive seems like common sense, but it can be hard when you're in the middle of a big plateau. Photo by Davidd.
If you've created specific goals, then getting positive reinforcement should be easy. Every time your each one of those goals?even if it's just a daily goal?mark it off on a checklist or calendar. You can even go a step further and use Seinfeld's "Don't Break the Chain" method of goal-setting, which is great for daily goals like "write every day" or "exercise 5 times a week." For other resolutions, try out one of our five favorite goal-tracking services to measure your progress.
If you're having trouble keeping your goals at the forefront of your mind, you can use one of any number of tricks to constantly remind yourself (besides tracking your progress). Set an alarm on your phone with a message of why you're doing this, record yourself on a webcam every day, or use dry erase markers to write your goals on your bathroom mirror.
Why wait until New Year's Day? Whether you're reading this at the end of December or in the middle of July, start right now?even with small changes to prepare you for the big push?and you'll be one step closer to achieving your goals. There's no reason your goals need to start on January 1st, so call up those accountability buddies, jot down your milestones, and get started with that resolution right now. Photo by Ambernectar 13.
Faculty bio: Kimberly A. Benjamin, PHR started Be Blessed Career Consulting Inc. and HR Strategies Plus LLC to be a resource for people who need assistance in career planning, goal setting, and new business development. Kimberly is also the Executive Director of A Purposed Transition, a nonprofit organization designed to assist people in discovering their purpose through career and entrepreneurship exploration.
Kimberly has over 20 years of human resource experience working for Fortune 500 Companies such as General Motors, Ford Motor Company, ITT Industries, Wal-mart, Toys-R-Us, University of Michigan, Cornerstone Schools, and the Michigan Primary Care Association. She teaches human resource management and entrepreneurship classes at the University of Michigan?s College of Business, Wayne County Community College, Concordia University, and the Kingdom Business Institute. Ms. Benjamin is also the author of How to Be Highly Favored and Empowered to Prosper in Your Job Search, the producer of Has God Given You a Business Idea workshop 50-part CD, DVD, and MP3 series, and the founder of The Online Business Training Institute?.
Web sites: www.APurposedTransition.org | www.TheOnlineBusinessTrainingInstitute.com | www.HRStrategiesPlus.com | www.BusinessIdeaToolkit.com
