Investors nervous as fiscal cliff approaches

Submitted by Collin Berglund on September 30, 2012
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Problem-Solver's Daily

INVESTORS NERVOUS: As the fiscal cliff edges closer, uncertainty reigns supreme. Investors say they would prefer for Congress to kick the can down the road again than allow the blind cuts and repeal of tax cuts to go into effect. Even that, however, would require across-the-aisle cooperation in Congress. And if we've learned anything over the past few years, it's that it will be difficult to find common ground, even on a temporary measure: Steven C. Johnson for Reuters: As fiscal cliff nears, markets ponder a rougher ride

 
SOME TOWNS GET IT: While Washington is mired in gridlock, some towns around the country are starting to fix the big problems facing them. In towns like Columbus Democrats and Republicans are working together to find solutions. Seems like a simple idea Washington could emulate: Rana Foroohar for TIME: The Columbus Comeback
 
REFORM THE FILIBUSTER: Calls for filibuster reform are picking up. On Thursday, Matt Miller wrote it was time for an improved filibuster and said No Labels had one plan for reform. Today, Sen. Tom Harkin wrote a letter to the editor calling for the same thing. Harkin worked on a proposal for filibuster reform in January 2011: Tom Harkin for The Washington Post: End the abuse of filibusters
 
THE DAILY BREAK: Test your awareness in this Whodunit.
 
ACTION OF THE DAY: Click here to LIKE No Labels on Facebook and check out our fun graphics: https://www.facebook.com/NoLabels
 
FROM THE FIELD: No Labels Co-Founder Mickey Edwards will be speaking at the University of Colorado this Tuesday about the harsh effect partisan politics has had on solving our country's problems.
 
STAT OF THE DAY: A recent drop in the savings rate may bode ill for the economy. Consumer spending rose by 0.5 percent in August, combined with a drop in the savings rate to 3.7 percent from 4.1 percent. This indicates that people are dipping into their savings in order to spend on consumer goods. However, since such dips are unsustainable without growth in personal income (which only rose by 0.1 percent on a seasonally adjusted basis), this could indicate economic trouble down the line. Jeffrey Bartash for MarketWatch: U.S. consumer spending jumps in August
 
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