Democrats elevated their political brinkmanship Sunday on fiscal negotiations in Washington, with Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner challenging Republicans to improve on his offer, one that Republicans dismissed as “non-serious” and an attempt not to reach a deal.  Geithner, now President Obama’s chief negotiator with congressional Republicans, told “Fox News Sunday” that the White House plan has “balance” and “detail” but that he’s willing to hear suggested improvements.  “But what we cannot do is figure out what works for them,” said Geithner, who appeared on all five major TV talk shows. “The ball really is with them now ... . They don't have that much time though."  House Majority Leader John Boehner appeared later on Fox and called the plan “non-serious.”  Boehner also said he was “just flabbergasted” when Geithner presented the plan last week.  "I looked at him and I said, `You can't be serious.'" Boehner said.  Past legislation has set the Jan. 1 deadline for the expiration of George W. Bush-era tax cuts and the implementation of steep across-the-board federal spending cuts, amounting to hundreds of billions of dollars sliced out of federal programs for everything from education to the military.  South Carolina Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham said on CBS’ “Face the Nation” the country will go over the so-called “fiscal cliff” next month should the parties fail to reach a deal.  “It’s pretty clear to me they’ve made a political calculation,” he said.  “This offer doesn’t remotely deal with entitlement reform in a way to save Medicare and Medicaid and Social Security from imminent bankruptcy.”  Geithner said Democrats realized Republicans are having a difficult time garnering support for increases to generate revenue that will help reduce the country’s estimated $16 trillion debt.  The president’s plan calls for $1.6 trillion in tax increases, $600 billion in savings from changes in mandatory spending programs, including Medicare, and $200 billion in spending -- ranging from public works projects to help for the unemployed and struggling homeowners, administration officials said.  Boehner, the chief negotiator for congressional Republicans, scoffs at the idea of $1.6 trillion in additional tax revenue – roughly double what was previously suggested.  “What do you think would happen if we gave the president $1.6 trillion of new money?” Boehner asked. “He’d spend it.”  The president’s plan also includes new stimulus spending and gives him the ability to raise the debt ceiling without congressional approval.  Republicans “are in kind of a tough position,” Geithner told Fox. “We may have to give them a little more time. … But what we cannot do is figure out what works for them."  He also said the country could go over the so-called “fiscal cliff” by next month and that it could be “very damaging” to most Americans.  Boehner agreed that no deal would hurt the economy but said, “We are not going to kick this can down the road.”  The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner on Sunday defended President Obama’s proposal to avert tax increases and massive federal spending cuts, saying it is a “balanced” and “detailed” plan and that Republicans still have time to make proposed changes but time is running out.