Business_Finance

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**FILE** Wes Bush, chief executive officer of Northrop Grumman Corp. (Associated Press/Press-Register)

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A vehicle from the Swallow Unmanned Aerial System was displayed at the Unmanned Vehicle Systems International convention in Las Vegas this year. Media, agriculture and real estate industries are expected to be among the most eager customers for drones. (Sam Morris/Special to The Washington Times)

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Grover Norquist, president of Americans for Tax Reform, says the public broadcast of negotiations on the “fiscal cliff” could hold lawmakers responsible for their promises and give Americans a firsthand view of public versus private rhetoric. (Barbara L. Salisbury/The Washington Times)

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**FILE** With fellow Republican Sen. John Thune of South Dakota (left) and others looking on, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky outlines Republicans' stance on negotiations with the president and Hill Democrats on the "fiscal cliff" on Nov. 27, 2012. (Associated Press)

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Palestinians hold pictures of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas as they celebrate their successful bid to win U.N. observer recognition, in the West Bank city of Ramallah on Sunday, Dec. 2, 2012. (AP Photo/Majdi Mohammed)

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House Speaker John A. Boehner, Ohio Republlican, talks to reporters after private discussions with Treasury Secretary Timothy F. Geithner on the "fiscal cliff" negotiations at the Capitol in Washington on Thursday, Nov. 29, 2012. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

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Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner enters the U.S. Capitol building in Washington, D.C. on Thursday, Nov. 29, 2012. Secretary Geithner is meeting with House and Senate leaders to discuss the looming fiscal cliff. (Barbara L. Salisbury/The Washington Times)

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U.S. Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner, center, departs after meeting with House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) at the U.S. Capitol Building, Washington, D.C., Thursday, November 29, 2012. (Andrew Harnik/The Washington Times)

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U.S. Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner, center, departs after meeting with House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) at the U.S. Capitol Building, Washington, D.C., Thursday, November 29, 2012. (Andrew Harnik/The Washington Times)

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Speaker of the House John Boehner enters a press conference to speak to the media Wednesday, Nov. 28, 2012 at the U.S. Capitol following a conference meeting with House Republican leaders about the fiscal cliff. Speaker Boehner said he is "confident" that they will be able to reach agreement with the president to avoid the fiscal cliff, although he did say that he is opposed to raising taxes on the wealthy, which is part of the president's plan. (Barbara L. Salisbury/The Washington Times)

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House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) speaks to reporters about the looming financial crisis in the House Visitors Center at the U.S. Capitol Building, Washington, D.C., Thursday, November 29, 2012. (Andrew Harnik/The Washington Times)

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New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, center, departs from a press conference after discussing New York's request for federal disaster relief at the U.S. Capitol Building, Washington, D.C., Wednesday, November 28, 2012. (Andrew Harnik/The Washington Times)