Washington (CNN) -- Twenty-three days since they last met face-to-face and 23 days before the fiscal cliff becomes a harsh reality, the two men most pivotal to the contentious budget talks sat down Sunday. There was no evidence of a breakthrough, though President Barack Obama and House Speaker John Boehner at least did agree on something: what, and what not, to say. Sunday's White House meeting caught some by surprise, considering it had not been on the president's official schedule and the two sides have been sparring publicly, accusing each other of failing to work sincerely toward a compromise. After the talks ended, White House spokesman Josh Earnest and Boehner spokesman Brendan Buck issued identical statements.
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President Obama and House Speaker Boehner meet at the White House
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Their spokesmen issue identical statements about the first such talks in 23 days
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Democrats and the GOP have been sparring about efforts to avert the fiscal cliff
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Sen. Corker joins some Republicans as open to hiking tax rates on the wealthy
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After campaigning against any tax increases, many top @placeholder have expressed willingness since the election to raise revenue by adjusting deductions and loopholes.