Now. President obama cut short his holiday vacation and returned to the white house to work on a deal to avoid the fiscal cliff. Before flying home from hawaii, the president called congressional leaders nancy pelosi, john boehner, Mitch Mcconnell and harry reid to reach agreements before tax hikes and spending cuts kick in january 1. We have been asking the president and the democrats to work with us on a bipartisan agreement for months. I dont know time wise how it can happen now. Reporter the Senate Majority leader wants House Republicans to return from their vacations to approve a Democratic Senate plan that extends tax cuts for families making less than 250,000 a year. Thats the only option that is viable escape route. Reporter but Republican Leaders say its up to democrats who control the senate and white house to avert the fiscal cliff. Republicans arent about to write a blank check for anything Senate Democrats put forward just because we find ourselves at the edge of the cliff