McConnell: We've Agreed 'on All Tax Issues'

Hours away from the fiscal cliff deadline, GOP Sen. Mitch McConnell said on the Senate floor today that "we've reached an agreement on all of the tax issues." He added that negotiators are "very, very close" to striking a deal and said he agreed with President Obama's statement today that middle-class Americans must not be burdened with a tax hike, CNN reports. "Let's pass the tax relief portion now," McConnell said. "Let's take what's been agreed to and get moving."

"Let me be clear, we'll continue to work on finding smarter ways to cut spending," he said. "But let's not let that hold up protecting Americans from the tax hike that will take place in about 10 hours. ... We can do this. We must do this." (More fiscal cliff stories.)