Fri., November 9, 2012 12:45pm (EST)

Obama To Lay Down His Markers On Economy & Fiscal Cliff

By Mark Memmott

Updated: 6 months ago

The post-election negotiations over taxes, the economy and the so-called fiscal cliff move into a new phase this afternoon when President Obama steps up to a microphone at the White House to lay out his latest thoughts about what needs to be done.

It will be the president's first address to the nation since his victory celebration Election Night in Chicago. The last time an incumbent president had the chance to lay out a post-election agenda, of course, was in 2004. Then, President George W. Bush famously said, "I earned capital in the campaign, political capital. And now I intend to spend it. It is my style."

Earlier today, House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio), repeated his call on the Democratic president to take the lead in such talks. Boehner also repeated the basic Republican position: that "lowering [tax] rates and cleaning up the tax code" will spur economic growth.

We'll update with highlights from the president's remarks. He's scheduled to begin at 1:05 p.m. ET.


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