On October 18, 2012, fifteen of the largest US financial companies warned President Obama that interest rates could pike if new laws did not avoid the fiscal cliff.<ref name=wp>{{cite news|title=Business Executives urge action to resolve 'fiscal cliff'|work=Washington Post|date=October 19, 2012|first=Zachary|last=Goldfarb|page=A1}}</ref> A group called "Fix the Debt" is planning to spend $30 million to pressure Congress to act to avoid the cliff.<ref name=wp/> Scott Mather, head of global portfolio management for Pimco said, "The U.S. will get downgraded, it's a question of when."<ref name=wp/> | On October 18, 2012, fifteen of the largest US financial companies warned President Obama that interest rates could pike if new laws did not avoid the fiscal cliff.<ref name=wp>{{cite news|title=Business Executives urge action to resolve 'fiscal cliff'|work=Washington Post|date=October 19, 2012|first=Zachary|last=Goldfarb|page=A1}}</ref> A group called "Fix the Debt" is planning to spend $30 million to pressure Congress to act to avoid the cliff.<ref name=wp/> Scott Mather, head of global portfolio management for Pimco said, "The U.S. will get downgraded, it's a question of when."<ref name=wp/> |