Biden advises not to predict outcome of "cliff" deal

Rep. Stephen Lynch, D-Mass., says the IRS "stonewalled" congressional committees investigating the agency's targeting scandal, warning that if IRS officials are not more forthcoming, "You will leave us no alternative but to ask for the appointment of a special prosecutor...to get to the bottom of this."

While maintaining that the White House tries to provide information as "quickly as possible and as comprehensively as possible," press secretary Jay Carney, after more than a week of being battered by reporters for his halting disclosure of information related to various controversies, admitted, "There have been some legitimate criticisms about how we're handling this...And I say 'legitimate' because I mean it."

U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security g addressed the media in Moore, Okla., in the aftermath of the deadly tornado that tore through the city.

Extending his sympathy to Oklahomans beginning to rebuild after tornadoes devastated their communities, Vice President Biden said, "It's not going to be easy, but they'll not travel alone - they'll have all the resources of the United States government, and the United States military, and the American people at their side...as they make their way through."

In the wake of tornadoes that devastated parts of Oklahoma and killed dozens, first lady Michelle Obama said "our thoughts and prayers are with all the people in Oklahoma," adding that President Obama has directed the "full resources" of the federal government to help Oklahomans recover and rebuild.

Despite visitor logs saying he visited the White House 118 times in 2010 and 2011, former IRS commissioner Douglas Shulman says he was "absolutely sure" he did not speak with any White House officials about the probe into the IRS's singling out of conservative groups for additional scrutiny.