Obama, Boehner launch second effort to reach grand fiscal deal

President Obama and Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) and their staffs will be the principal negotiators in talks to avoid the "fiscal cliff."
As the talks begin formally at the White House Friday, lawmakers and special interest groups are scrambling to figure out who else will be in the room and how to influence the outcome.
Obama will host Boehner, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.), Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.) and House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi (Calif.) at 10:15 a.m. in the Roosevelt Room. Senior congressional aides, however, describe it as more of a photo op than a substantive bargaining session.
Informal talks are already under way, behind the scenes, between White House officials and congressional staff, according to a senior Senate aide. Obama has also called the Democratic leaders of the Senate and House to organize strategy.
A senior House Democratic aide said Obama and Pelosi have spoken three times since the election.
A senior House Republican aide, however, said Obama’s staff has not begun any informal talks with Boehner’s staff.

Read more: http://thehill.com/homenews/administration/268387-obama-and-boehner-will-take-the-lead-in-fiscal-cliff-talks

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Jean-Marc Ayrault, the French prime minister, objected to deep cuts to agriculture spending included in the proposal, but also expressed displeasure with reductions in the development money, known as cohesion funds, that benefit poorer regions.
Mr Ayrault pledged that France would “continue to work in a constructive manner to find an overall accord”.
Nonetheless, several diplomats expressed concern that efforts by Herman Van Rompuy, the European Council president, to mollify the UK and other budget hawks may have created fresh problems with France, one of the budget’s biggest contributors.

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Jean-Marc Ayrault, the French prime minister, objected to deep cuts to agriculture spending included in the proposal, but also expressed displeasure with reductions in the development money, known as cohesion funds, that benefit poorer regions.
Mr Ayrault pledged that France would “continue to work in a constructive manner to find an overall accord”.
Nonetheless, several diplomats expressed concern that efforts by Herman Van Rompuy, the European Council president, to mollify the UK and other budget hawks may have created fresh problems with France, one of the budget’s biggest contributors.