US Republican Senators Lamar Alexander (L) and Bob Corker speak on the impending 'fiscal cliff' during a media briefing on December 28, 2012 on Capitol Hill. US President Barack Obama will press top lawmakers for a deal to avert huge tax hikes and growth-sapping spending cuts next week, but hopes for an end to the fiscal cliff crisis appear thin. Wall Street reflected pessimism over prospects for a deal in bitterly divided and stalemated Washington, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average slipping 88.45 points or 0.68 percent an hour into trade. AFP PHOTO/Paul J. Richards
{"Image ImageDescription": "US  Republican Senators Lamar Alexander (L) and Bob Corker speak on the impending \"fiscal cliff\" during a media briefing on December 28, 2012 on Capitol Hill. US President Barack Obama will press top lawmakers for a deal to avert huge tax hikes and growth-sapping spending cuts next week, but hopes for an end to the fiscal cliff crisis appear thin. Wall Street reflected pessimism over prospects for a deal in bitterly divided and stalemated Washington, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average slipping 88.45 points or 0.68 percent an hour into trade.    AFP PHOTO/Paul J. Richards        (Photo credit should read PAUL J. RICHARDS/AFP via Getty Images)", "Image Copyright": "2012 AFP"}