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US fiscal cliff: Obama 'hopeful' after Republican plan fails US fiscal cliff: Boehner still hopes for deal
(about 4 hours later)
President Barack Obama is "hopeful" that a solution will be found quickly to avoid a so-called "fiscal cliff" of tax rises and spending cuts. Republicans will keep working to avoid the so-called "fiscal cliff" of tax rises and spending cuts, House Speaker John Boehner has said.
The White House said it would work with Congress to strike a bipartisan deal ahead of a 1 January deadline. Earlier, right-leaning Republicans rejected a plan by Mr Boehner to raise taxes on higher earners.
Earlier, Republicans dropped a vote in Congress on a proposal that would have raised taxes on high earners. Mr Boehner said his party would keep working to break the deadlock but "significant spending cuts and real tax reforms" were needed.
Right-leaning Republicans rejected the plan, which was put forward by Republican House speaker John Boehner. The White House said it would work with Congress to strike a deal.
Analysts say the rejection has weakened Mr Boehner's position in negotiations with the Obama administration.Analysts say the rejection has weakened Mr Boehner's position in negotiations with the Obama administration.
Mr Boehner's plan would have had little chance of passing a Senate vote, but was seen as an effort to tell the US public that the Republicans should not be blamed if a deal could not be reached. Mr Boehner's plan would have had little chance of passing a Senate vote, but was seen as an effort to tell the US public that the Republicans should not be blamed if a deal could not be reached ahead of the 1 January deadline.
The House is controlled by the Republicans, but the Senate is Democrat-led.The House is controlled by the Republicans, but the Senate is Democrat-led.
'Protect the economy'

class="quote">“Start Quote

 'God only knows'

“Start Quote

What happens now depends on whether President Obama's foot soldiers are as willing to play chicken with the recovery as Mr Boehner's troops seem to be”What happens now depends on whether President Obama's foot soldiers are as willing to play chicken with the recovery as Mr Boehner's troops seem to be”
End Quote End Quote
At a press conference, Mr Boehner conceded the House's failure to take up the tax bill was "not the outcome that I wanted".
He admitted that "God only knows" how the cliff would be avoided but Republicans would keep working on a plan to protect families and small businesses.
He added: "We only run the House. Democrats continue to run Washington."
If politicians fail to agree new fiscal rules by the end year, steep tax rises and deep spending cuts are meant to take effect automatically.If politicians fail to agree new fiscal rules by the end year, steep tax rises and deep spending cuts are meant to take effect automatically.
Analysts say the resulting "fiscal cliff" could take the US into recession.Analysts say the resulting "fiscal cliff" could take the US into recession.
Despite the failure of Mr Boehner's proposal, major European stock markets fell, but by only about 0.5%, as most analysts had expected this to be a long drawn-out process.Despite the failure of Mr Boehner's proposal, major European stock markets fell, but by only about 0.5%, as most analysts had expected this to be a long drawn-out process.
The White House said President Barack Obama would work with Congress "to get this done".The White House said President Barack Obama would work with Congress "to get this done".
"We are hopeful that we will be able to find a bipartisan solution quickly that protects the middle class and our economy," it said."We are hopeful that we will be able to find a bipartisan solution quickly that protects the middle class and our economy," it said.
The House of Representatives is not expected to meet until after Christmas, while the Senate was due to meet only briefly on Friday.The House of Representatives is not expected to meet until after Christmas, while the Senate was due to meet only briefly on Friday.
Although Mr Boehner's proposal would have ensured a tax cut for 99.8% of Americans, it would have imposed a rise on those earning more than $1m (£600,000).Although Mr Boehner's proposal would have ensured a tax cut for 99.8% of Americans, it would have imposed a rise on those earning more than $1m (£600,000).
Mr Boehner said he had been unable to garner sufficient votes to secure passage of the bill.Mr Boehner said he had been unable to garner sufficient votes to secure passage of the bill.
Mr Obama initially sought tax rises for those earning more than $250,000, but later offered a compromise threshold of $400,000.Mr Obama initially sought tax rises for those earning more than $250,000, but later offered a compromise threshold of $400,000.
He also offered a change to the way Social Security cost of living adjustments are made for some recipients, cuts from government healthcare programmes and a two-year extension of the debt ceiling.He also offered a change to the way Social Security cost of living adjustments are made for some recipients, cuts from government healthcare programmes and a two-year extension of the debt ceiling.
'Non-starters''Non-starters'
Mr Boehner announced his bill on Tuesday, saying he would bring forward a measure that extended Bush-era tax cuts for those earning less than $1m per year - but would not address the automatic spending cuts.Mr Boehner announced his bill on Tuesday, saying he would bring forward a measure that extended Bush-era tax cuts for those earning less than $1m per year - but would not address the automatic spending cuts.
On Wednesday, the Republican leadership added a companion bill that would replace the automatic cuts with a proposal to remove cuts from defence and government operating budgets. They would be offset by reductions elsewhere in the budget.On Wednesday, the Republican leadership added a companion bill that would replace the automatic cuts with a proposal to remove cuts from defence and government operating budgets. They would be offset by reductions elsewhere in the budget.
The proposal would cut food stamps, benefits for federal workers and some social services programmes.The proposal would cut food stamps, benefits for federal workers and some social services programmes.
That bill was narrowly passed.That bill was narrowly passed.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said Mr Boehner's plans were "non-starters in the Senate", while White House spokesman Jay Carney called them a "multi-day exercise in futility at a time when we do not have the luxury of exercises in futility".Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said Mr Boehner's plans were "non-starters in the Senate", while White House spokesman Jay Carney called them a "multi-day exercise in futility at a time when we do not have the luxury of exercises in futility".
Analysts have painted a grim picture of the consequences of going over the cliff, with some warning that the impact could push the US back into recession.Analysts have painted a grim picture of the consequences of going over the cliff, with some warning that the impact could push the US back into recession.
The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) said in its latest economic outlook that the recession from the cliff could become global.The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) said in its latest economic outlook that the recession from the cliff could become global.