President Barack Obama says he'll press ahead with Congress to prevent across-the-board tax increases set to strike taxpayers Jan. 1 after House GOP leaders unexpectedly put off a vote on legislation calling for higher rates on million-dollar earners.

U.S. Speaker of the House Rep. John Boehner (R-OH) speaks during his weekly news conference
U.S. Speaker of the House Rep. John Boehner (R-OH) speaks during his weekly news conference (Alex Wong/Getty Images)
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House Speaker John Boehner  conceded Thursday night that the measure did not have sufficient support from Republicans to pass.

At the White House, Press Secretary Jay Carney said Obama's main priority was to ensure that taxes don't go up on what he said would be 98 percent of Americans and 97 percent of small businesses.

Carney's statement didn't say whether Obama would work to revive stalled talks with the Ohio Republican or turn to the Democratic-controlled Senate to try to salvage the situation.


(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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