Students, poverty advocates call for protection of social services in fiscal cliff talks

President Obama and Congressional leaders are meeting at the White House today in an 11th-hour attempt to avert the New Year’s Day tax hikes and spending cuts known as the “fiscal cliff.” Though some of the effects wouldn’t kick in for years, some would hit immediately—including the expiration of unemployment benefits and yearly increase in taxes of about $2,000 for the average middle class family. But many progressive advocates and lawmakers say they’d rather leaders miss Monday night's deadline than sign a deal that slashes benefits for the sick, elderly and poor. In Washington, D.C. FSRN’s Alice Ollstein reports.