On the recordDecember 30, 2012
we have been negotiating now for 36 hours or thereabouts. We did have conversations last night that ended late in the evening between the staffs. This morning we have been trying to come up with some counteroffer to my friend's proposal. We have been unable to do that. I have had a number of conversations with the President. At this stage, we are not able to make a counteroffer. The Republican leader has told me that--he just said here that he is working with the Vice President. I wish them well. In the meantime, I will continue to try to come up with something, but at this stage, I do not have a counteroffer to make. Perhaps as the day wears on, I will be able to. I will say that I think the Republican leader has shown absolute good faith. It is just that we are apart on some pretty big issues.
