Congress will not meet the midnight deadline to reach an agreement to avoid going over the fiscal cliff.
Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle say they're ready for an agreement but that won't likely pass both houses in time.
"It's time for us to demonstrate the political courage that is necessary to take all the big issues and to have the votes. Let's have a budget. Let's put it on the floor. Let's vote on it." Senator John Thune said.
The White House and congressional Republicans took part in urgent talks all day between, with longtime negotiating partners Vice President Joe Biden and Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell leading the discussion. But any slight progress has done little to dampen one South Dakota lawmaker's frustrations.
"Let's do something around here that matters. That is meaningful to the future of this country, rather than wait until the last day and the last hour and allow two people to sit in a room and decide the fate and the future of this great country," Thune said.
While the deadline to prevent tax increases and spending cuts is midnight, passing legislation within 72 hours could block the tax hikes and spending cuts.
