US Senate Avoids Fiscal Cliff with Vote Overnight 89–8

Levi Rickert, editor-in-chief in Native Briefs. Discussion »

WASHINGTON – In a rare session that went overnight into the New Year, the US Senate passed an agreement that will avoid the so-called fiscal cliff. The bi-partisan bill passed 89 to 8.

The House could vote on the agreement Today

Technically, the fiscal cliff is in effect until the US House passes the legislation and it is signed into law by President Barack Obama.

The agreement was the result of feverish work by Vice President Joe Biden and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Kentucky.

The measure, which would raise tax rates for families making more than $450,000 and delay deep across-the-board spending cuts for two months, cleared the Senate by an overwhelming 89-8 vote shortly after 2 am, according to Politico.

This fiscal cliff that would have brought the sequestration of federal programs would have had significant negative impacts on American Indian programs in Indian country.

Here is what would have happened in Indian country had Congress not voted to stop the fiscal cliff:

In addition Bureau of Indian Affairs operations would have sustained a 14 percent cut.

The House could vote on the agreement as early as today in a rare New Year's Day session. At press time, the timing of the vote was not known.

posted January 1, 2013 11:20 am est