WASHINGTON -- Legislation to negate a fiscal cliff of across-the-board tax increases and sweeping spending cuts to the Pentagon and other government agencies is headed to the GOP-dominated House after bipartisan, middle-of-the-night approval in the Senate capped a New Year's Eve drama unlike any other in the annals of Congress.

The measure cleared the Senate on an 89-8 vote early Tuesday, hours after Vice President Joe Biden and Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky sealed a deal.

It would prevent middle-class taxes from going up but would raise rates on higher incomes. It would also block spending cuts for two months, extend unemployment benefits for the long-term jobless, prevent a 27 percent cut in fees for doctors who treat Medicare patients and prevent a spike in milk prices.

The measure ensures that lawmakers will have to revisit difficult budget questions in just a few weeks, as relief from painful spending cuts expires and the government requires an increase in its borrowing cap.

House Speaker John Boehner pointedly refrained from endorsing the agreement, though he's promised a vote on it or a GOP alternative right away. But he was expected to encounter opposition from House conservatives.

"It's three strikes in my book and I'll be voting no on this bill," Rep. Tim Huelskamp told CNN Tuesday morning. Huelskamp says the legislation would impose a hardship on small businesses around the country and falls short of addressing the need for cuts in spending

By ANDREW TAYLOR, THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Huffingtonpost.com

these a holes will do anything from having this disaster leave egg on their faces. But in two months real stark realities begin to rear their ugly head. Where do we cut all the pork fat from? And from who?

The Entitled poor deserve to feel their fair share of the pain. Poverty is one thing. Milking a system for a free ride is another.

How about all that foreign aid we give? Even Israel needs to feel their share of us having to take care of our own.

And what to do to get middle grade and high grade manufacturing back to America.

Why the hell is it Russia still builds the biggest aircraft, Korea the biggest ships, and China, the biggest Hydro Electric facility in the world?

And about the Federal Reserve and all these Privatized Corporations charging us for what the government already charges us for.

And our haphazard energy policies...

All the penguins are feeling safe on the top of the ice berg they are riding on but what they don't know is that it is about to roll over on them. Fiscal Cliff indeed.

If only 60 to 80% of Americans refused to pay taxes...

How could they afford to enforce the illegal laws they emplaced on us?

Why is it California's Legislature can come up with 800 new laws for 2013 but they still cannot balance the state budget?

People are Sheeple... But at least a few of us can think for ourselves!