Every Philadelphia-area lawmaker interviewed said he believed an agreement was possible. One Republican said President Obama had a chance to shape his legacy.
"I really believe this is a 'Nixon goes to China' opportunity for the president," said U.S. Rep. Pat Meehan (R., Pa.). "The extent to which he uses this to lead to a route to a meaningful resolution could well define his presidency."
The public negotiations began immediately after the election, when Obama and Republican House Speaker John Boehner made overtures of cooperation. But any agreement will eventually need the support of rank-and-file members of the Senate and House, where bipartisan deal making and deliberation were scarce in the months before Election Day.
Lawmakers plan to meet with their party caucuses Wednesday morning, giving leaders a first chance to gauge members' moods and see where compromise might be possible and which roadblocks remain.
"The outlines of at least the discussion on our side will start to shape," Casey said.
The president and congressional leaders are seeking a deal to reduce the deficit and avoid $500 billion of tax increases and automatic spending cuts known together as the fiscal cliff. The tax increases, due to expiring laws, along with automatic spending reductions that were part of an earlier deficit deal, are to take effect together at year's end, which could jolt the nation back into recession as people pay more and government scales back spending, analysts warn.
Nearly 90 percent of American households would see taxes rise by an average of $3,500, according to the nonpartisan Tax Policy Center, and budget cuts would hit programs popular and unpopular alike.
For months before Election Day, the Senate and House went through the motions of debating bills, focused more on scoring points for campaign purposes than any belief that their plans would become law.
The end of election season, lawmakers said, presents a new opening.
