Maryland Congressman Chris Van Hollen, Ranking Member of the House Budget Committee, speaks to reporters after the conclusion of a closed-door meeting between the House Democratic caucus and Vice President Joe Biden on the "fiscal cliff" deal that was negotiated in the Senate on January 1, 2013 on Capitol Hill in Washington D.C. Participating in a press conference with House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) were Reps. Steny Hoyer (D-MD), Joseph Crowley (D-NY) and Xavier Becerra (D-CA). Pelosi and her fellow party leaders demanded an immediate up or down vote in the House on the matter. (Photo by Jeff Malet).