Skip to main content Part of complete coverage on  Boehner
proposes short-term tax fix; Democrats say no  By Dana Bash and
Tom Cohen, CNN updated 7:55 AM EST, Wed December 19, 2012   •
NEW: Boehner's plan "can't pass the Senate," White House says in
statement   • Speaker Boehner offers higher tax rates on
millionaires as a back-up plan   • Boehner says Americans don't
need more stress after the school shooting   • The president
wants the higher rates to apply to income above $250,000
Washington (CNN) -- In the chess match of the fiscal cliff
negotiations, President Barack Obama and House Speaker John
Boehner are narrowing the divide between their positions while
contending with discontent among their respective ranks.
Boehner on Tuesday proposed what recently was the unthinkable
for Republicans -- letting tax rates go up on income above $1
million as a short-term step to avoid some of the fiscal cliff
while continuing to negotiate a broader deal.  The White House
and Democratic leaders immediately rejected