The president says both sides just need to compromise. "Here's the thing, none of this is necessary. It's happening because Republicans in Congress chose this outcome over closing a single wasteful tax loophole that helps reduce the deficit. Just this week they decided that protecting special interest tax breaks for the well-off and well-connected is more important than protecting our military and middle-class families from these cuts."
For the Republicans, Washington state congresswoman Cathy Mcmorris Rodgers says the House sent alternatives to the Senate, but senators never acted on them. She says the GOP has "shown that these choices can be made in a responsible, thoughtful way."
