Biden urges Dems to back Obama's tax-cut plan

WASHINGTON (AP) — The White House today urged congressional Democrats to quickly embrace a contentious tax-cut plan that President Barack Obama cut with Republicans, arguing that the rank and file need to move on to other issues before the party loses control of the House in January.

White House aides said Vice President Joe Biden will ask Democratic lawmakers to swallow their objections to the administration's proposed compromise with the GOP when he attends a closed luncheon with senators at the Capitol.

Obama's plan would extend Bush-era tax cuts for all Americans, including the richest, while also extending unemployment benefits and reducing payroll taxes for a year.

Democratic leaders gave a cool reception to Obama's proposals but did not rule them out. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said the compromise plan shows that Democrats want to help low- and middle-income workers while the GOP's chief concern is the wealthiest Americans.

"We will continue discussions with the president and our caucus in the days ahead," Pelosi, D-Calif., said in a statement issued 18 hours after Obama laid out his plan