WASHINGTON (AP) -- Racing against the clock, the White House reached agreement with congressional Republicans late Monday on a deal to prevent across-the-board tax increases and spending cuts to government programs from taking effect at midnight, according to administration and Senate Democratic officials.These officials said a New Year's Eve vote in the Senate to ratify the deal was possible later in the evening, barring opposition from majority Democrats.There was no immediate confirmation from aides to the top Republicans in Congress, Sen. Mitch McConnell and House Speaker John Boehner.Vice President Joseph Biden headed for the Capitol to brief the Democratic rank and file.The officials who described the developments did so on condition of anonymity, saying they were not authorized to discuss the details.Hours earlier, President Barack Obama said, \It appears that an agreement to prevent this New Year's tax hike is within sight. ... But it's not done