As fiscal cliff nears, grassroots activists urge lawmakers to protect the social safety net

House Republicans are circulating a proposal this week explaining how they would solve the fiscal cliff crisis, the tax increases and spending cuts that will happen at the end of the month if no action is taken. Unlike the proposal President Obama announced last week, which allows the Bush Tax Cuts for the wealthy to expire and includes additional stimulus spending, the Republican plan relies on deep cuts to Medicare, Medicaid, food stamps and programs for federal employees. With less than a month left to reach an agreement, both corporate lobbyists and grassroots activists are all over Capitol Hill, pushing for lawmakers to protect some interests, and sacrifice others. In Washington, D.C., FSRN’s Alice Ollstein has more.