Senators to watch special screening of 'Lincoln'

Members of the Senate will get a special screening of "Lincoln" on Dec. 19, according to multiple reports.

The movie event follows Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) telling the Las Vegas Journal-Review that he had seen the film twice and had begun organizing a special screening for members of his chamber.

The Senate event follows separate screenings by President Obama at the White House theater and one organized by House Majority Whip Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) at a rented theater for some of his colleagues in the House.

The screening comes while lawmakers continue to struggle to agree on a deficit-reduction deal that would avoid the looming "fiscal cliff" of spending cuts and tax increases. 

On Wednesday, President Obama and Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) held a phone call amid the negotiations on a deficit deal. Aides confirmed the phone call, cut would not say what was discussed.

Previously, after Obama offered an initial proposal with $1.6 trillion in tax increases and $400 billion in entitlement program savings, Republicans countered with an offer that raises $800 billion in new tax revenue but does not raise tax rates. Obama dismissed the proposal. 

Obama and top Democrats have said they cannot agree to any plan that does not include any increases on tax rates for the highest-income earners. 

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