republicans would not hold middle class taxes hostage to try to protect tax cuts for high-income individuals. >> there is big news tonight out of washington where speaker john boehner and obama are talking. this is actually not nothing, not in this town. early last week they really weren't talking, and neither were their staffs. progress on what to do about all those expiring tax cuts and schedule spending cuts and that possible recession congress might create, totally stalled. but now today they are talking, and their staffs are talking, and they're even exchanging paper, real paper. news leaked today that in the last few days, there have been new offers and new counteroffers in the negotiations. but they sound, to be honest, not that different from the old offers. reports that mr. obama has gone from $1.6 trillion in taxes to $1.4 trillion but hasn't budged much on entitlements. mr. boehner really hasn't moved on taxes at all.