Thanks for sending out the Primer. I found this to be very informative for the casual reader. My only complaint is that you introduce the document by stating that you are willing to work with Democrats and Independents, and then later on list negative references where President Obama did this or the Obama Administration did that. After listening to all of negative campaign ads during the election season, I am ready for each party to stop the finger pointing and work on solving the problem. Let us move forward as a nation united once and for all.

I do not mind paying my fair share of taxes, but when large corporations make billions a year and pay little or no taxes, that I mind. Oil companies, like Exxon Mobil, which in 2011 only sent 2 percent of its $73.3 billion earnings to the IRS. They need to pay their fair share. And more than likely, they got all that back plus more because to subsidies and rebates. As ExxonMobil demonstrated in 2009, it is possible for a company to earn $19 billion in profits in a single year and not pay a dime in U.S. income taxes. So, close the loopholes and limit subsidies and make the rich and large corporations pay their fair share. The "FISCAL CLIFF" is a scare tactic for big business to keep their tax breaks. The Senators and Congressmen need to do what they were elected to do, work for ALL the people, not just corporations and rich that back their elections. If not, next election, they may be out of a job.

Everything that is mentioned involves something from the middle class. These things have been referred to as gifts. Isn't it a gift to the wealthy when loopholes and benefits that can only be accessed by the wealthy are not factored into helping prevent the fiscal cliff? Why is there no discussion about that.

We need to focus on all the non essential spending and wasteful spending that the government now has. We also need to cut out abuses by people getting freebies that they are not in need of. We need to limit earned income credits because people are having children just to draw more benefits. Aid to other countries should stop all together. Borrowing money to give to other countries does not make since. If we have a surplus then it would be fine but we are a long ways from that. We as americans have to live within our budgets and the government needs to lead by example and quit spending more money than they have. I also feel that government employees should live under the same guidelines for social security and other benefits just like your everyday american citizens do. I feel it is an abuse of power to give yourself something better than you expect from the people that are actaully funding the whole show. We need to get responsible spending habits and we need it NOW.

The term "Fiscal Cliff" was not "coined" by Ben Bernanke. An NY Times reporter used the term on Oct. 20, 1957, in an article about the danger of deciding to buy a home because tax rates are low. The trerm has been used many times over the years about various impending finacial doom (NYC's near bankrupcy in the '70's for example) and in 2008 Senator Jim DeMint said: "We are trillions of dollars in debt and Obama's massive new spending program threatens to send our nation over a fiscal cliff, leading to higher taxes and fewer jobs." Bernanke wasn't even the first to use it about our currenct problems, two weeks before Bernanke used the phrase, a Reuters article was titled: "Geithner: year-end fiscal cliff to hit U.S. growth".

Give no ground to the Obama administration whatsoever !! I agree with you for the most part on this topic posted here. I want Congress to DEMAND a balanced budget from this White House Occupier----PERIOD!! Do not raise taxes but extend all Bush Era tax cuts until the new Congress takes the throne after Jan.1, 2013, then let them do battle with the knuckleheads in the WH & Senate. Last of all, CUT ALL ENTITLEMENT PROGRAMS starting with the fraud-waste-abuse of the EBT entitlement program. Make mandatory DRUG SCREENING a requirement of ALL EBT/MEDICAID Card holders every 45 days or less,,that'll be a great job stimulus to the lab people for sure.

Regardless of your party affiliation the country is in serious financial trouble. When my personal financial situation changes to threaten my lively hood I make cuts to my spending secure my revenue generating capabilities and review my current capital levels. I like most Americans can't understand why the US government can't make these same assessments. It is time for congress to have the same benefits as the everyday American then they would make the correct choices. Limited terms for congress would be the very beginning to bring you all back to reality. Unfortunately we are all in for a very uncomfortable ride to the bottom the likes we haven't seen since the 30's and 40's. The difference now is men and women had a sense of pride and were willing to work in the 30's and 40's for their very unwanted but needed government assistance now we expect it without the first drop of sweat. Not only do we expect the very basics like food and water we expect cell phones, living arrangements, health care, government credit cards that won't embarrass us in the grocery line, and respect from individuals that don't live off of the government. The FREE RIDE WILL END it is just a matter of how hard it crashes.

Rep. Forbes, this is an excellent resource. I've forwarded it to many of my friends and family who don't live in our district, because there is so much confusion about what is involved in this upcoming event. The mere fact that some 200,000 members of our military would be left jobless because of the fiscal cliff should be enough to motivate our leaders to do everything in their power to avoid it. However, I fear that it will take a severe jolt for the American people to finally wake up to the fact that we are out of money. It's just that simple. We have spent and spent on programs that just don't make any sense, and now we are being presented with the bill. I hope that out of our impending misery, we finally gain a renewed appreciation for self-reliance and entrepreneurship.

Whether it's "increase revenues through tax reform" or "through tax rate increases"the money has to come from somewhere, so stop the double talk. Do nothing, let the (BCA) sequestration take effect, the taxes "reset" not increased, and get on with paying the bills. Stop kicking the can down the road. Come on get real, even the the proposed $2 trillion deficit reduction over 9 years, still leaves us adding $7-8 trillion to the national debt! And somehow you think this is an acceptable solution. Here's an idea. Reset all taxes and spending to Clinton era levels. Oh, and how about ending the unfunded wars.

I believe we must create an environment for a stronger housing market. This lead the way to full employment in the 1990s. We had balanced budgets in the late 1990s as a result. What changes can there be to create a stronger housing market? According to econ 101, whenever you lower the price of something, you will sell more of that something. Thus your total net profits will rise. However, if you lower that price too much, your total net profits will begin to decline. These profits act like a downward slopping curve. The Calculus of a math formula will dictate what price to set to obtain maximum profits. The mortgage rates and the down payment fees are currently at an all time low. You will notice the housing market is turning around the corner with higher prices and more homes sold. Exactly what econ 101 says it would? Plus, some Americans are realizing much lower mortgage payments after refinancing their homes. Thus people have extra cash to spend on the economy after paying these low mortgage payments. Should leaders allow "underwater" homes to be refinanced with these loans, as well? Currently, to sell your home it costs are 6-7 percent of the price of your home. Can they lower this price so it will sell more homes for the same amount of time? With today's digital technologies, they no longer need to print expensive pamphlets. Can new tax credits be given to reduce this price to sell a home to let's say 3-4 percent, instead? Then this would help stimulate the housing market and the overall Iowa economy as well. Create new tax credits for those who make their homes more energy efficient (better windows, furnaces, insulation?) It would lower everyone's energy bills. Then more cash would be made available to spend after these lower monthly energy bills. Not to mention it would create new construction jobs improving homes. Encourage residential property tax cuts to stimulate the economy. It must be passed onto its renters, as well. Then this extra cash could be spent to help stimulate the US economy even more. In addition according to econ 101 above, for every one-dollar in residential tax cuts in the short run, will create higher residential property values in the long run. These higher values will translate into higher tax revenues, for both states and for schools. Education is the key to reduce the dependency on entitlements. College costs were a lot lower in the 1990s than compared to today. Today, graduates have record high student loans debt. This decreases the ability to buy new homes and cars after graduating. Thus, harms our economy to achieve full employment like that of the 1990s. Please give tax breaks for excessive tuition. "Who's going to pay for these ideas?" For every one-dollar spent on these programs, will result in multiple amount of both tax revenues increase and entitlement decrease in the long run. ...The Bush's tax cuts are not working. We should create a middle class tax cuts mentioned above, instead.

Rep. Tom Cole (R) of Oklahoma has suggested to extend just the tax-rate cuts for those making $250,000 or less before the end of the year. The economy needs optimism to speed recovery. The sooner this can be accomplished, the sooner the American public can begin to become optimistic about our economic future.

STOP WORSHIPPNG NORQUEST AND VOTE FOR A TAX INCREASE ON THE 250.000 AND ABOVE LIKE YOURSELF, IF YOU WANT TO HELP THE POOR AND MIDDLE CLASS