WBEZ 91.5 Chicago

Congress appears unlikely to strike deal that would avoid $85 billion in mandatory spending cuts scheduled to take effect starting Friday, which would limit Illinois' ability to police air and water quality.

Portions of the federal farm bill were extended through September as part of the fiscal cliff deal. Consumers can breathe a sigh of relief — milk prices won’t double this year after all. But some Illinois farmers are not so happy.

The deal may be just a stopgap, but four of the big players may have actually gained political traction, one lost big time, and where was Paul Ryan?

Congress' excruciating approval of a compromise averting a prolonged tumble off the fiscal cliff hands President Barack Obama most of the tax boosts on the rich that he campaigned on. So what's next?

The bill's passage on a bipartisan 257-167 vote in the House sealed a hard-won political triumph for the president less than two months after he secured re-election while calling for higher taxes on the wealthy.

Illinois Comptroller Judy Baar Topinka estimates a $1 billion impact on the state budget if automatic federal spending cuts and tax increases take effect.

And suddenly Obama -- who was ready to give away the store again -- has everything going his way.