Riley meets with Washington leaders on Fiscal Cliff

Charleston Mayor Joe Riley met with Vice President Joe Biden and other Washington leaders Thursday as the U.S. Conference of Mayors traveled to the Capitol to urge a solution to the upcoming “Fiscal Cliff.”

Today he issued a statement pointing out the chances of substantial job losses in the Charleston area if trigged defense cuts go through at the end of the year, among other potential hits to locally needed projects.

“The long term fiscal fix our nation’s leaders are now seeking must be responsible and carefully considered,” he said. “Needed will be a balance of budget cuts and additional revenues.”

Riley supports President Obama’s plan to extend existing tax cuts for lower incomes and raising tax rates for the highest incomes.

Riley stressed the importance of continued funding of infrastructure projects such as ports, including the deepening of Charleston Harbor, and transportation.

Included in the meetings were House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi and U.S. Rep. Jim Clyburn, D-S.C., among others. Riley also met with members of Republican S.C. Sen. Lindsey Graham’s senior staff.