Obama, congressional Republicans discuss cuts

 WASHINGTON – Heralding a new era of divided government, President Barack Obama and congressional Republicans pledged warily to seek common ground on tax cuts and reduced spending Tuesday in their first meeting since the midterm elections.

 No substantive agreements on essential year-end legislation emerged from the session. But in a sign of urgency, Obama and leaders of both parties appointed a small group to begin talks immediately on resolving the tax cut issue.

Associated Press