President Obama made a fresh round of call to congressional leaders late Wednesday in the hopes he could help revive stalled negotiations days before the nation faces a series of historic tax increases and spending cuts.

Obama called Senate Majority Leader Harry M. Reid, D-Nev., Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., according to the White House,

The president returned to Washington Thursday from Hawaii, where he spent the last five days, to resume negotiations. But there is little sign that any progress was made over the holidays.

McConnell's spokesman Don Stewart said Obama is the first Democrat to reach out to his boss since Thanksgiving.

"The leader is happy to review what the President has in mind, but to date, the Senate Democrat majority has not put forward a plan,'' he said. "When they do, members on both sides of the aisle will review the legislation and make decisions on how best to proceed."

The Senate returned to Washington Thursday, but the House has not indicated when they will be back.