The meeting only lasted an hour. If you’re an optimistic sort, they huddled, ordered pizza and got to work. Obama also wishes Boehner a Happy Birthday:
Nancy Pelosi's statement on the meeting:
ashington, D.C. - Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi made the following comments at a press stakeout at the White House following a meeting between President Obama, Speaker Boehner, and Leader’s Reid and McConnell on the fiscal cliff:
“It was a very constructive meeting. We had a recognition that every person in America knows that we must reach agreement.
“The Speaker spoke about a framework going into next year. I was focusing on how we send a message of confidence to consumers, to the markets in the short run too. That is to say that we should have a goal in terms of how much deficit reduction, we should have a deadline before Christmas.
“We should show some milestones of success so that confidence can build as we reach our solution because if we do not reach agreement, not only will we miss the opportunity for doing something good for our economy and lifting the experience and confidence in our country, we will have an economic downturn that must be avoided. We understand our responsibility there.
“We understand that it has to be about cuts, it has to be about revenue, it has to be about growth, it has to be about the future. So as we cut investments and as we talk about revenue, we have to do it in a way that promotes growth and support the future.
“It was good. I feel confident that a solution may be in sight.”
Boehner and Reid say the meeting was constructive.
