Obama to make ‘fiscal cliff’ statement

President Barack Obama smiles as he speaks about the fiscal cliff, Monday, Dec. 31, 2012, in the South Court Auditorium at the White House in Washington. AP FILE PHOTO

WASHINGTON—US President Barack Obama was set to make a televised statement within minutes on Tuesday, after Congress finally passed a bill to avert a “fiscal cliff” budget crisis.

Obama was due to appear in the White House briefing room within minutes of the final vote on the measure wrapping up in the House of Representatives.