>> i think we are all aware that we have some urgent business to do. we have got to make sure that taxes don't go up on middle class families and our economy remains strong that we are creating jobs and that's an agenda democrats and republicans and independents, people all across the country share. >> reporter: republican leaders gave no indication they are willing to entertain the idea that the president wants them to, namely the raising of tax rates on some particular categories of income earners. the top republican told reporters he believes the dilemma isn't because we tax too little, but because we spend too much. >> we fully understand that you can't save the country until you have entitlement program that fit the demographics of the changing america in the coming