Rep. Peterson not too concerned about fiscal cliff deadline

by Tom Crann, Minnesota Public Radio

President Obama has headed back to Washington from his vacation in Hawaii, where fiscal talks have been on hold since the Friday before Christmas.

Before the break, Obama urged members of Congress to think about the fiscal cliff deadline, to be ready to come back and send him a bill that would at least stop tax cuts on all but top earners, and prevent the expiration of unemployment benefits.

U.S. Rep. Collin Peterson, a DFLer who represents Minnesota's 7th Congressional District in western Minnesota, said it won't be catastrophic if Congress fails to meet the January 1, 2013 deadline to pass a deal to avoid the fiscal cliff.

He spoke with MPR's Tom Crann.

Broadcast Dates

• All Things Considered, 12/26/2012, 5:20 p.m.