What's Ahead in 2013: Politics, Economy and Health Care
The issues that will top lawmakers' 2013 to-do list.
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Same Old, Same Old - It seems like 2013 will look an awful lot like 2012 when it comes to certain issues. As President Obama and congressional lawmakers start their new terms, they will continue to face down the fiscal cliff and engage in heated debate about how to reduce the nation's growing deficit. What happens could affect the rest of the political agenda, says California Rep. Karen Bass. – Joyce Jones
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Fiscal Cliff - Any deal hammered out between the White House and Congress to avert the fiscal cliff will likely be a temporary, short-term fix to prevent middle- and lower-income Americans from experiencing tax hikes. In 2013, negotiations will continue on spending cuts to discretionary domestic spending programs and entitlement reforms. (Photo: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
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Debt Ceiling - The nation is scheduled to hit its debt ceiling on Dec. 31, earlier than anticipated. The Treasury Department will take steps to keep the United States from going into default on the massive amount owed, but lawmakers will have to act swiftly in the first couple of months in 2013 to prevent a major economic crisis. (Photo: Andrew Burton/Getty Images)
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Jobs - "The three things that will be on the agenda for me will be jobs, jobs and more jobs. You can't get a job unless you've got an education, you're healthy and you have a place to live," says New York Rep. Charles Rangel. "And you can't get a job unless we have the type of market in which people have resources in order to buy so that people will be able to sell." (Photo: Spencer Platt/Getty Images)
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Transportation Bill - "Our infrastructure is crumbling and everybody knows that. Democrats and Republicans are going to be almost forced by our constituents to come together on a decent transportation bill," said Maryland Rep. Elijah Cummings, adding that the legislation also would create many jobs. (Photo: Alex Wong/Getty Images)
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