Democrats in Congress in no hurry to seek compromise

Republicans who've long held firm against raising taxes on any Americans are showing a willingness to allow some increases. Rep. Tom Cole, R-Moore, said the GOP should agree now to extend the Bush-era tax rates for the middle class and fight later over rates for the wealthy. Few in the House caucus agreed, but you can't fault a guy for trying.

In exchange for some revenue increases, Republicans have said they'd like to see trimming or cost-saving reforms to Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security. But these ideas have been flatly rejected by Democrats, who apparently want the GOP to give ground but aren't willing to respond in kind.

Just last year during budget negotiations, President Barack Obama indicated he was open to tweaking those programs. But since winning re-election, the president has spent much of his time simply stumping for the idea of raising tax rates on the wealthy.